Fernando Mendoza, the future starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, is currently embracing his apprentice role behind Kirk Cousins, even comparing him to “Master Yoda” from Star Wars. But make no mistake, that apprenticeship is about to get a serious test, with our Seattle Seahawks’ #2 pass defense directly in the crosshairs.
The Jedi Master Is Struggling, And His Padawan Is Watching
Mendoza hasn’t been shy about his admiration for Cousins, telling The Athletic’s Michael Silver, “I love Star Wars. I think it’s like (Cousins is) Master Yoda out there, and I’m trying to get all the information from him.” He added that Cousins is “playing at an MVP-caliber level” and has been incredibly receptive, answering all his questions, looking out for him, and sticking his neck out to help him along the way. That’s some serious praise for a guy Mendoza clearly looks up to.
However, the Raiders’ actual on-field performance tells a different story. They’ve dropped five of their last six games, and Cousins’ numbers in their recent 38-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers weren’t exactly “MVP-caliber.” He went 22-of-32 for 216 yards, threw one touchdown, but also tossed three critical interceptions. Despite these struggles, the Raiders reportedly aren’t planning to trade Cousins before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, at least for now. But you gotta wonder how long that patience will last with the team circling the drain.
Our Hawks’ Elite D Is The Next Hurdle For The Yoda-Padawan Saga
ESPN’s Ryan McFadden has already floated Week 14 as the potential debut for Mendoza, suggesting the team is getting closer to making a change. Why Week 14? Well, the Raiders have a bye the week before, which would give the young QB extra time to get ready. Plus, their schedule gets easier in the final month. The 49ers, who just handed Cousins that tough loss, are allowing the eighth-fewest passing yards in the league, a brutal matchup for any quarterback, let alone a rookie. But before Mendoza even thinks about that easy Week 14 game against the winless Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders have to face some serious defenses.
That’s where our Hawks come in, Seattle! Before their Week 13 bye, the Raiders are slated to play us, the Seattle Seahawks, who boast the #2 pass defense in the entire NFL. Yeah, you read that right: #2. They also have to take on the Cleveland Browns, who are sixth in pass defense. So, if Mendoza is “satisfied to remain the young padawan” for now, he’s about to watch his Master Yoda go up against some of the league’s toughest secondaries, including ours. We just dropped the Arizona Cardinals, 17-3, showing off exactly what our defense can do. Let’s see how Cousins handles *that* test.
The stage is set for an epic showdown, and our Hawks’ defense is ready to show the Raiders exactly what a true force looks like. We’re looking forward to seeing how the “Jedi Master” handles the pressure coming his way before his young apprentice takes over.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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