The heartbreaking loss on Monday Night Football should be in the rearview mirror by now. At least for the Las Vegas Raiders, the emphasis is on should. One clear positive for the Silver and Black has been the play of running back Josh Jacobs. He’s off to both a hot and historical start for the Raiders, but the team isn’t capitalizing on it. A 1-4 record certainly points to that.
The numbers are impressive, to say the least. In the last two weeks alone, Jacobs has amassed 298 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. He’s gone off on some notable big runs, including two that went for 37 and 43 yards, respectively. You can also see that Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels is starting to incorporate Jacobs more into the passing game. No. 28 has racked up 15 catches in the last three contests, including a major 14-yard reception during the Kansas City Chiefs game.
Josh Jacobs is making the most of his opportunities
Throughout the Chiefs game, Jacobs continued to dominate when called upon, as he was a difficult opponent to stop. Several times during Monday night, Jacobs transformed a little gain into a big run, breaking numerous tackles and demonstrating his eagerness to do whatever it took for his team to prevail. He was simply ready to put the team on his back despite falling short.
It was also the second time this season that he has carried for more than 100 yards, proving that when he is consistently fed the ball, it keeps you in the game because he is that special of a player and a game changer. According to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press, Jacobs’s back-to-back 140-plus rushing yard performances have him in elite company. Both Bo Jackson and Marcus Allen achieved that feat in 1989 and 1985, respectively.
You could say he’s been utilizing the fact that his fifth-year option was declined as the ultimate motivator. Every time he touches the ball, he’s got evil intentions. Week after week, Jacobs has put on amazing performances, which fans surely hope to continue throughout the season. If he maintains this level of performance, he should be rewarded handsomely at the end of the season.
What to expect against the Houston Texans?
Speaking strictly of the run game, the Raiders’ next opponent possesses an obvious weakness. The Texans have surrendered 824 rushing yards so far this season, which ranks 28th in the NFL. They’ve also given up five touchdowns on the ground, which is 14th in the entire league. The fact that the Texans are allowing five-plus yards per carry (5.1) should have both McDaniels and Jacobs salivating. That’s especially true when you see how much the Raiders’ offensive line has improved in terms of run blocking. Can they exploit this obvious advantage and get back on track coming out of the bye week? Raider Nation hopes so.
The Raiders’ Defensive Line Needs To Build Off Of Week 5 Effort
*Top Photo: Sporting News
