The Las Vegas Raiders are straight up ahead of schedule with a wild 3-1 record to kick off the regular season, absolutely smashing every expectation out there. But here is the kicker: despite all that early success, their ground game is dead last in the entire NFL, averaging a measly 3.1 yards per carry. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about a fly in the ointment for a team that suddenly has a playoff berth feeling totally within reach.
Cousins Is Cooking, Defense Is Dealing, But There’s a Catch
It is not just luck that has this Raiders squad rolling. Kirk Cousins has been the steady veteran presence they needed at quarterback, leading the charge. On the other side of the ball, the defense has developed a real identity, showing they are unafraid to make plays on the ball. These guys lead the whole league with nine takeaways, and they are tied for fifth with 12 sacks. That is some serious playmaking right there. Their offense is still putting up points, too, ranking eighth with 28.8 points per game and sitting in the top half of the league in total yards with 343 per game. Everything looks great on paper, except for that one glaring weakness.
The Ground Game Is Flatlining While The Kids Shine
So, about that run game. You have got Klint Kubiak priding himself on establishing the run, yet they are dead last in the NFL heading into Week Five. Andrew Janocko, the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, laid it out on how to fix it: “I think we just have to pay attention to our details, starting with ourselves. What we’re asking of the players, what we are attacking each game plan and presenting a great plan to the players allowing them to be detailed so they can go out and play fast and attack it. That’s what we look forward to doing.” Despite the struggle to consistently move the chains on the ground, they have found ways to get Ashton Jeanty and fourth-round rookie Mike Washington involved. Jeanty is second on the team with 19 receptions, just behind tight end Michael Mayer’s 20, and he is tied for the team lead with two touchdowns. Washington, meanwhile, is averaging five yards per carry. Jeanty himself sees the value, saying Washington’s “a great player,” who “runs with a great mentality, so having him come in and the defense can’t take a break, but I can take a break and catch my breath and come back in with fresh legs.”
Learning From The Chiefs Loss And Looking Ahead
While the Raiders are riding high, their recent loss to the Kansas City Chiefs showed they are far from a finished product. The Chiefs offense managed to generate some explosive plays, and Patrick Mahomes got too much time to work against young defensive backs like Hezekiah Masses and Treydan Stukes. First-year defensive coordinator Rob Leonard knows there are moments to look into to tighten things up, emphasizing the need to convert pressure into sacks and disrupt offensive rhythm. Leonard himself stated, “I’m happy with the progression in the process that we’re…” The momentum is there for this 3-1 Raiders team, but as they head into Week Five, unlocking that run game and shoring up those defensive lapses will be absolutely critical if they want to keep this surprising start from derailing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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