Fernando Mendoza Faces a Tough Third-Down Test Against Seattle

The Las Vegas Raiders have turned nearly 44% of their third downs into first downs this season. Fernando Mendoza will try to keep those drives moving in his first NFL start Sunday against a Seattle Seahawks defense that rarely lets opponents do it.

Las Vegas converted 49 of 112 third downs through Week 9, a 43.8% rate that ranks seventh in the league, according to the NFL’s weekly statistics report. Seattle allowed 37 conversions on 121 attempts, or 30.6% through Week 9.

Both teams showed why those numbers matter last week. The Raiders went 6-for-9 on third down against San Francisco but scored 17 points in a loss. Seattle held Arizona to four conversions on 13 attempts and gave up only a field goal in a 17–3 win.

The Raiders built their season total largely with Kirk Cousins at quarterback. They named Mendoza the starter after trading Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings. The rookie completed six of eight passes in relief against New England, his only regular-season appearance before Sunday.

For Mendoza, the work starts on first and second down. A few yards for Ashton Jeanty on an early carry can leave the Raiders with a manageable third down, where they can still run or throw. A loss or a penalty can put Mendoza in a situation where Seattle can defend the first-down marker and make him wait for a route to develop.

Brock Bowers gives Mendoza a target when a drive is on the line. The tight end is among the options in the short passing game Mendoza can lean on. With a few yards to go, Bowers can find space near the marker or catch the ball underneath and fight for the rest. The farther Las Vegas falls behind the chains, the more yards Seattle can make him earn after the catch.

Watch the distance on Mendoza’s first few third downs. If the Raiders keep him within a few yards of a first down, Klint Kubiak can call from more of his playbook. If Seattle repeatedly leaves him needing a longer completion, the rookie will have to extend drives against a defense that has spent the first half of the season cutting them short.