NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Following their win in Week 6 against the Houston Texans, the Las Vegas Raiders were sitting at 2-4. Yes, they were below .500 but with the weapons at their disposal and a very favorable schedule ahead of them, many believed they were about to turn the corner. Then the bottom fell out. The Raiders would go on to lose 3 straight games and the boobirds were in full effect. But then someone sealed that same bottom.
While the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers were struggling, very quietly, Davante Adams was putting up his usual numbers. It wasn’t until Week 11, that the rest of the NFL world decided to take notice. Quick question. How many players have over 1000 yards receiving so far? 4. And Adams is one of them. Not to be forgotten is that Adams is also Top 5 in Receptions with 79. But wait, there’s more. He’s also leading the NFL in Receiving Touchdowns with 12. Does he miss Rodgers? Well, I wouldn’t be too sure about that one.
Are The Las Vegas Raiders Fools Gold?
While Adams is doing his thing on the outside, Josh Jacobs is tearing the league up with his legs. Heading into Week 14, Jacobs is leading the NFL in Rushing Yards with 1303 to combine with 10 Rushing Touchdowns. But the driving force here is the forgotten member of this trio, Derek Carr.
With the Las Vegas Raiders struggling, one would believe that the entire team was having an off-year of sorts. But no, each core offensive player is putting up career numbers. Adams is on pace to beat his best season as a pro where he had 1553 Receiving Yards and 18 TDs. Jacobs has already passed his career high in Rushing Yards, and Carr is on pace to have the 2nd most Passing Yards of his career.
The Raiders’ record says to ignore them and that’s what most have done. But with the current win streak, the Las Vegas Raiders’ trio and their numbers have been thrust into the spotlight. Can they be stopped? They still have the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs remaining, and each of those defenses are in the bottom half in terms of Passing Yards Allowed.
Things may be a bit tougher for Jacobs and the rushing attack but with the grit these Raiders have played with lately, nothing is impossible. What started out as a train wreck of a season, could turn into one heck of a run to make the playoffs before this regular season is done.
“Just Win Baby” has always been the motto but when you have a trio as good as the Las Vegas Raiders do, things just happen naturally.
