The path of Las Vegas Raiders continues this Sunday by visiting the Denver Broncos, a team that will represent a challenge due to its elite defense and in which the bad guys’ ground attack will have to be effective to be able to win this divisional game.
A good sign has arrived in the victory over Cleveland Brownsas Las Vegas rushed for 152 yards, the first time the team surpassed triple digits in this statistic. The importance of moving the ball this way is reflected in the Raiders’ 6-1 record since 2023 in games in which they gained 100 or more yards.
Zamir White was the holder of the Silver and Black in that game, but he had 50 yards in 17 opportunities, for an average of 2.7 yards per attempt and a maximum gain of 17 yards. His average is lower than that of other players who ran that same game, although somewhat unfair, since they were special plays: receivers DJ Turner (18 yards on a carry for an average of 18.0 and a touchdown), Tyreik McAllister (11 yards on two attempts for 5.5 per carry), Tre Tucker (three yards on one attempt, for a 3.0 and a touchdown) and rookie tight end Brock Bowers (12 yards on one carry for a 12.0).
A runner that offers variations
But there was a player with better production and who works in the same position as White. Alexander Mattison was the Raiders’ leading rusher against Clevelandsince he finished the game with 60 yards and had fewer plays: five. An average of 12.0 yards per attempt reflects the explosiveness of the 26-year-old running back and is a warning for them to consider giving him more prominence in the plays.
“It’s something we’ve been working on for three weeks. No, let’s go back to what we were saying, even from the preseason games, and think, ‘Hey, let’s get this running game going.’ We’re going to get some positive yards, we’re going to get those powerful, explosive runs. “I think that really showed (against the Browns),” the head coach said. Antonio Pierce.
Although everything seems to indicate that Zamir White will continue to be the team’s starting running back, this has also reflected a renewal in the Raiders’ plays, with a dual approach that had already been considered before, in order for Mattison to offer his dynamism as a playmaker and his effectiveness in big plays to remain.
Because Matisson has shown to be a useful weapon within the offense, without the need to be the main engine of advancement. Their seven receptions for 80 yards give him an average of 11.4 per catchwhich means that every time a pass is given, there is a high probability that the team will convert the first opportunity and get an extra gain.
If Mattison serves as an explosive alternative, he’s likely to retain that role before moving into a starting role. But the Raiders’ key to beating the NFL’s second-best defense in yards allowed (256.5) and third-best in points (13.8) will be to establish the ground attackwhere Denver falters a bit, being in 12th place at the NFL level (110.5), compared to what they allow through the air (146.0), the third lowest amount. To win, they will have to run the ball a lot and do it well.
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RGS
