This may come as a shock, but there are noteworthy Las Vegas Raiders storylines aside from Fernando Mendoza's first career start. His presence alone could help one wide receiver who's currently an afterthought in the offense.
With Kirk Cousins' departure and Mendoza now starting, the Raiders may not be done reshaping their quarterback depth chart.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard may be feeling some pressure, and he gave an explanation for his unit's struggles. Is Leonard deflecting, or does he have a valid point?
Raiders' Week 10 matchup could be a defining game for their defense while Fernando Mendoza gets his first taste of regular-season action
A quarterback addition on the way?
Up until the Cousins trade, the Raiders have rostered three quarterbacks. Now that Mendoza is the starter and Aidan O'Connell has moved from emergency third-stringer to primary backup, head coach Klint Kubiak may add another signal-caller.
"We've got Aidan, and then we've got to go to Plan C," Kubiak said. "I'm not gonna tell you Plan C, but Plan C is a part of the game, preparing for that when you only have two guys available."
If Mendoza stays healthy, we won't see O'Connell or the emergency quarterback on game day. That said, Kubiak could bring in another young developmental player with O'Connell on an expiring contract, or an older veteran who knows his system and can help Mendoza prepare.
Keep an eye on Jake Heaner, who's on the New York Giants' practice squad and played under Kubiak with the New Orleans Saints in 2024.
Can Fernando Mendoza rekindle connection with rookie wideout Malik Benson?
Mendoza will have the spotlight at Allegiant Stadium, though his job is to distribute the ball to his playmakers and allow them to shine in the passing game.
Going back to the offseason, Mendoza had a notable connection with rookie sixth-rounder Malik Benson, who at times lined up as the No. 2 wideout while Jalen Nailor and Jack Bech dealt with injuries.
ESPN's Ryan McFadden had a glowing report about Benson's performances during training camp.
"The rookie wide receiver has had a strong camp, showing the coaching staff that he could play a meaningful role during the regular season. Whether playing with the first- or second-team offense, Benson has found ways to make plays. On top of that, he has developed a strong connection with quarterback Fernando Mendoza."
The Raiders still need more consistency from their wide receiver corps behind Tre Tucker. Perhaps Mendoza's promotion also helps elevate Benson in the pecking order.
Rob Leonard says fatigue has hurt defensive consistency
Leonard's unit is under pressure after giving up 30-plus points in six straight games. When asked about the defensive struggles, his response raised eyebrows.
"When you're stacking inconsistent plays, it's always multiple things," Leonard said. "But I'd say fatigue makes cowards of us all. When you're on the field a long time, mistakes tend to happen more often. I'm just going to put it that way."
For what it's worth, Las Vegas is 29th in time of possession, which isn't always a sign of offensive inefficiency. Kubiak's offense is sixth in third-down efficiency and eighth in scoring.
Nonetheless, the Raiders' inability to run the ball, with the second-fewest rushing yards, doesn't allow them to control the clock and wear down opponents. Instead, they have an all-or-nothing passing offense that can score quickly or get run off the field after three-and-outs, keeping the defense on the field for long stretches.
Offensive efficiency and defensive fatigue can go hand in hand, but it's no excuse for Leonard's group to give up 6.1 yards per play, tied for a league high with the Indianapolis Colts. Also, when a defense allows five rushing yards per carry, the most in the league, the unit wears itself out with the lack of resistance.
Moe Moton writes about the Raiders for Just Blog Baby. You can follow him on Twitter at @MoeMoton.
Add us as a preferred source on Google