After a tumultuous last several days throughout Raider Nation, Las Vegas will have to somehow get into their gameday mindset against the San Francisco 49ers. With news revolving around Derek Carr, shockwaves have been sent throughout the fanbase and the roster. Yet the Raiders are still alive for the postseason. To make it that far, they’ll be forced to knock off San Francisco this week. The disastrous loss to Pittsburgh last week was due to several players having poor games. Here are three guys that must bounce back if the Raiders want a shot at upsetting the 49ers this week.
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs has had an amazing year in nearly every way possible. He currently leads the league in rushing yards while dominating nearly every game he’s played. Unfortunately, the Christmas Eve affair in Pittsburgh did not live up to the hype.
Jacobs only tallied 50 total yards while rushing for under three yards per carry. In a cold-weather game like that, it’s imperative that the running game be able to function. Jacobs shouldn’t have to carry the offense as much as he has recently, and last week’s loss should not be blamed on him. Still, it’s more than fair to say he had a poor game, based on his high standards.
Now, with Jarrett Stidham making his first start in a Raiders uniform, Las Vegas finds itself in a tricky predicament. The 49ers have one of the better defenses in the league, forming a matchup that doesn’t seem too appealing for Stidham. If Jacobs is able to bounce back and help take some pressure off of Stidham, the Raiders might sneak out of this one with a win.
Davante Adams
This has been a rough week for Davante Adams. He had a poor outing on Saturday, with just two catches for 15 yards. He was essentially a no-show, and although Adams has had a very impressive year, he has had a couple outliers. To top it off, his good friend was benched.
If there’s one thing that can be said about Adams, it’s that he’s a pro’s pro. Adams has faced adversity all season long, and this week shouldn’t be looked at any differently. With his status as one of the top players in the league, Stidham will absolutely rely on him as much as he can. Adams will have to act as a security blanket for the new quarterback if the Raiders want to have a chance in this one.
Nate Hobbs
Nate Hobbs had an excellent rookie season, cementing himself as one of the best young corners in the league. However, sophomore slumps are real, and Hobbs is right in the thick of one right now. Nate has had to deal with injuries this season, and judging by his recent play, it doesn’t seem like he’s at 100 percent.
Hobbs was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, which is encouraging. Nate has been on the injury report all too often this season, but his full participation in practice is a good sign, one that Las Vegas hasn’t seen in a while.
With a young, inexperienced quarterback at the helm, the Raiders don’t have any chance in a shootout. Therefore, Hobbs and the rest of the defense must stand strong this week. The defense has been encouraging in the past several weeks, and they’ve been doing that without the impressive play we’ve become accustomed to seeing from Nate. If he can bounce back this week, the Raiders will be in good shape.
*Top Photo: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
