The losing ways of the Las Vegas Raiders are in full effect after another tough loss, this time at home. Even more humiliating is the fact that the Raiders lost to an Indianapolis Colts team thought to have been in worse shape than the Silver and Black. To call this season a letdown is an understatement, as Raider Nation will tell you. Nonetheless, a noteworthy trend that has taken place is regarding the Raiders’ run game. What’s happened to Josh Jacobs as of late? It’s a question certainly worth addressing.
Josh Jacobs is still doing his best to carry the Raiders
During this game, Jacobs led the way once again (shocker, am I right?). No. 28 finished with 78 rushing yards at 3.7 yards per carry and one touchdown. Jacobs demonstrated that he was willing to go to any length to help his team win, whether it meant making defenders miss or simply plowing through them. You can tell there was motivation behind each run, and it appeared in the game to be a battle of wills with Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as they both exchanged big plays.
Jonathan Taylor said I’ll see your Josh Jacobs TDs and raise it 66 yards #Colts pic.twitter.com/EuJhymVQvB
— Rival Fantasy (@rivalfantasy) November 13, 2022
If there is one thing we can take away, it’s that he left it all on the field. Jacobs is willing to put in his best effort as a key player on this team, win or lose. Despite performing well despite shoddy play-calling, it could be argued that the ball should have been in Jacobs’ hands more. That was especially true when he started to gain a lot of momentum. It’s frustrating when you think about it, but head coach Josh McDaniels seems to abandon the run game at key points in the game. It should also be mentioned that Jacobs has yet to get close to the century mark since the Raiders’ win against the Houston Texans.
This week’s AFC West matchup is against the Denver Broncos. Despite obvious frustration setting in, the Raiders cannot afford to be upset. There is still a game to be played, and Jacobs must perform well regardless of the team record.
Round 2 With Broncos Country
The Silver and Black will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, a team they have already defeated this season. The Broncos are a team that ranks first in run defense, allowing only three rushing touchdowns so far in 2022. Simply put, that’s a strong defense that should present a challenge for Jacobs. Even with the playoffs being a pipe dream now, there’s no doubt that he will do everything in his power to have a strong performance on the ground.
*Top Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports