Despite being 2-4, the Las Vegas Raiders are trending upward right now. On top of that, Josh Jacobs’s trajectory has also caught the attention of the NFL. Despite a slow start against the Houston Texans, Josh McDaniels’ offense came alive on Sunday. Without getting ahead of ourselves, is it too soon to proclaim that the Raiders are back? Well, let’s take it one game at a time, but the recent praise bestowed upon them is well-deserved.
In terms of what Jacobs is doing right now, you can’t help but watch in amazement. It’s been a long time since a Raiders running back has captivated the attention of the entire NFL. Since Week 4, Jacobs has taken the reins as the league’s leading rusher with 441 yards. Trailing behind him are Saquon Barkley (409) and Nick Chubb (399). According to Pro Football Focus, Jacobs currently leads the way in two notable categories. Those categories are 37 rushes for a first down, along with six red zone rushing touchdowns. It’s simply astonishing. In fact, NFL.com Columnist Jeffri Chadiha recently ranked Jacobs as number one in his trio of players trending upward.
“Jacobs has quietly been the hottest running back in football over the past three weeks. He’s produced three straight games with more than 140 rushing yards, scored six touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per carry during that stretch. The Texans became the latest team that couldn’t handle Jacobs, as he ran for 143 yards and three scores in a 38-20 win. Jacobs said he didn’t get down on himself when the Raiders declined his fifth-year option. He’s just taken it as a reason to show them what he can do when healthy and given plenty of touches.”
The Las Vegas Raiders are moving up in the NFL’s Power Rankings
Meanwhile, the NFL’s Dan Hanzus released his updated power rankings. Coming off of Sunday’s win, the Raiders moved up three spots from last week’s edition. As the Raiders prepare for Week 8, the Silver and Black find themselves creeping up into the top 10. They’re 13th as of this publication. Hanzus highlights the surprise that has come from Jacob’s efforts.
“Jacobs continued his team MVP act on Sunday, rushing for 143 yards and three TDs in a massively important win over the Texans. It’s his second multi-score game of the season and third consecutive 100-yard effort on the ground. When the Raiders traded for Davante Adams, Josh McDaniels had the parts to an offense that would do most of its damage through the air. Jacobs’ resurrection has flipped the script.”
With the New Orleans Saints coming up next, the Raiders can’t rest on their laurels. Will they keep the ball in the hands of Jacobs? The smart money says yes. McDaniels needs to keep pounding the ball with Jacobs until opposing defenses can prove they can slow him down.
No Josh-ing: Raiders are starting to see the fruits of their labor; can they maintain it?
*Top Photo: Official Raiders YouTube Channel