Raiders’ Progress Under Carroll Faces Crucial Challenge This Weekend
LAS VEGAS, Nev. –Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll spoke from the podium at team headquarters before Friday's practice. This week, the Raiders will visit the Washington Commanders on Sunday, 10:00 a.m. PT, FOX, KOMP 92.3FM, and KRLV “Raider Nation Radio 920AM”.)
To view his comments, watch below.
Q: Obviously, no Jayden Daniels, but on a trip like this, is it more about you guys rather than those guys?
Head Coach Pete Carroll: "Well, we know what you guys know. We've read what you've read. We'll see what happens. If DQ [Dan Quinn] finalized it, I don't know that right now, but regardless, yeah, it doesn't change anything for us at all.
And we've talked about both guys playing all week long, and we've looked at film of both guys all week long, so that's what they're dealing with. Yeah, we have to get out there and get our game right and make sure everybody's got their head in the right direction, and we're going and playing a great football game. This is a winning football club. Danny's [Dan Quinn] turned it around in no time. Had a great season last year, and so, they've got a winning mentality, and they're going to be hard as heck at home. So, that's all. We need to go play our game. That's the challenge."
Q: When you turn on the film, watching Marcus Mariota and this offense, how do you think that they utilized his talents?
Coach Carroll: "It looked very similar. The same play, same style. He's a runner. He's run all through his career. Jayden [Daniels] is a fantastic all-around athlete. Well, so is [Marcus] Mariota. So, we would think Marcus would do all of the same stuff as we've seen on film, from throwing the ball down the field to keeping it and all the rest and scrambling, all of that."
Q: What challenges does someone like a Deebo Samuel Sr. present?
Coach Carroll: "Yeah, Deebo [Samuel] -- we've played against Deebo for a lot of years and have great respect for his game. He's really physical. He's more physical than most players at that position, and they'll get the ball in his hands, they'll give him chances to do things. We know that that's going to happen, so we just have to be alert and make sure that we don't leave him unattended to. I have great respect for him because he's so physical, and he plays that way with great tempo and speed and all, so I got a lot of respect."
Seahawks Get Bad News on Running Back Before Saints Game
After a disappointing start to the 2025 NFL season, losing to the division rival San Francisco 49ers in the season opener, the Seattle Seahawks were able to bounce back with a vengeance, getting an impressive win against Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Seahawks’ offense was able to put up 31 points on T.J. Watt and company, which showed a lot of promise for what Mike Macdonald’s squad might be able to accomplish during the 2025 campaign. Despite throwing two interceptions, Seahawks newcomer Sam Darnold was able to move the chains and throw for two touchdowns, connecting with six receivers.
Injury Concerns Heading Into Week 3 for the Seahawks
Although the Seahawks are coming off a solid win over the Steelers, the team does have some injury concerns heading into Week 3’s matchup against the winless New Orleans Saints.
According to Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, running back Zach Charbonnet joins Devin Witherspoon, Julian Love and Nick Emmanwori as players listed as doubtful for Sunday’s matchup at Lumen Field in Seattle.
#Seahawks have Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, Zach Charbonnet and Nick Emmanwori all doubtful to play Sunday vs the Saints, with game 5 days later at the Cardinals.
Sub-optimal for the secondary. Section Kendrick, D’Anthony Bell figure to get a lot of snaps Sunday. pic.twitter.com/1TmeNuMExA
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) September 19, 2025
Over the course of the first two games of the season, Charbonnet has racked up 57 yards from scrimmage and one rushing touchdown. Obviously, Kenneth Walker III is the lead back and will almost get the bulk of the carries, but not having Charbonnet on the field will hurt the run game while putting more pressure on Walker to shoulder the load out of the backfield.
With the NFC West being as competitive as any division in the league so far this season, with the three other teams all having undefeated 2-0 records coming into Week 3, Macdonald’s squad needs to get every win they can from here on out to keep up with the 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals.
Saints Shouldn’t be Overlooked
GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 17: New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore looks on prior to the start of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Caesars Superdome on August 17, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Fortunately for Seattle, the Saints are a bit of a mess right now, as they are a team in a rebuilding phase, with new head coach Kellen Moore leading the charge. New Orleans lost to the Cardinals in Week 1 and then fell to the 49ers in Week 2, so they’ve already lost twice to NFC West opponents.
However, both of those losses were one-possession games down the stretch, with New Orleans only losing to Arizona by a touchdown and then losing by just five to San Francisco a week later.
That said, the Saints may be a bad team this year and headed for a year on the outside looking in on the NFL playoffs, but they will pull out wins from time to time against teams not taking them seriously.
The Seahawks are heavily favored in this game, a status that is unlikely to change if Charbonnet is ruled out. However, there’s a chance there’s an upset brewing in Seattle on Sunday, with Moore anxious to get his first win, especially after coming so close against the Cardinals and 49ers.
Ultimately, the Seahawks should improve to 2-1 on the season and set their sights on Kyler Murray and company in Arizona in Week 4, but this game could turn out to be a nailbiter.
