The lights at Allegiant Stadium will shine on two teams trying to turn Week 10 into a season-changing chapter. The 5-4 Seahawks arrive after a tough 17-3 win over Arizona, a game where their defense made every yard feel difficult. The 4-5 Raiders come home after a rough loss to San Francisco, but their young offense still has the tools to create a surprise. On Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza faces the biggest challenge of his young NFL career: Seattle’s championship defense.

Mendoza was the first pick in the 2026 draft after leading Indiana to an unbeaten national-title season. He has played only one NFL game, so Las Vegas will want to keep the game simple around him. That starts with Ashton Jeanty, the powerful runner who can also catch passes like a wide receiver. Jeanty has already caught 42 passes this season, showing why he is so important when the Raiders need a spark. If he can slip through tackles and turn short throws into longer gains, Mendoza will not have to carry the whole offense alone.

Brock Bowers gives Mendoza another exciting target. The tight end lines up close to the offensive line but attacks defenses through the middle of the field. In only seven games, Bowers has caught 48 passes and scored six touchdowns. Seattle knows the danger. Its defense allows only 18 points per game, and it held Arizona to a field goal last week while piling up sacks, which happen when defenders tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. Las Vegas has scored 26.4 points per game, but it must protect Mendoza better and avoid long, difficult drives against this fast defense.

Seattle’s offense has its own quarterback question. Sam Darnold is listed out, while Drew Lock is questionable after helping the Seahawks beat Arizona. Whoever takes the snaps will look first toward Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The star receiver has 71 catches, 1,036 yards, and nine touchdowns in nine games. He gets open with sharp cuts, quick feet, and dependable hands, then turns ordinary plays into races downfield.

The Seahawks also need rookie Jadarian Price to help steady the attack. With Zach Charbonnet recovering from a knee injury, Price has a larger opening to show his burst as a runner and receiver. Seattle rushed for 110.8 yards per game, much more than Las Vegas’s 71.3, and that balance can keep the Raiders defense from focusing only on Smith-Njigba. Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby will try to wreck that plan by chasing Seattle’s quarterback and forcing hurried throws.

Las Vegas has the home crowd and talented young playmakers, but Seattle has been more reliable on defense all season. The Seahawks also showed last week that they can win a physical, low-scoring game. If their quarterback situation does not unravel, Seattle’s defense and Smith-Njigba’s big-play skill should guide them through a fierce road challenge. Prediction: Seahawks win.

Fernando Mendoza Meets Seattle’s Championship Defense in Las Vegas