To build up the ground and pound game, are you increasing the passing attack? Although it doesn’t sound ideal for a
rookie quarterback, the Las Vegas Raiders can benefit most from this game plan when they play the Minnesota
Vikings on Sunday.
In order to end a two-game losing streak and secure a much-needed victory at home, Silver & Black must reverse the
script and pass the ball to set up the run. Josh Jacobs, a running back with 220 carries for 771 yards and six
touchdowns, is the cornerstone of the Raider offense. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce easily acknowledges that
giving the tailback more than 20 touches per game usually bodes well for Las Vegas. However, in a must-win Week
Fourteen
The fundamental cause of such is that Minnesota’s eighth-ranked defense (242 total points allowed) is extremely
skittish on the ground and vulnerable to aerial attacks.
According to Pro Football Reference, the Vikings (6-6 overall) pass defense has allowed opponents’ wide outs the
fourth-highest number of receptions (171), 12th-most yards (2,000), and seventh-highest number of touchdowns
(10) in the league. Furthermore, this season, the Vikings have allowed opponent tight ends 61 receptions for 540
yards and four scores. And running backs who receive the ball out of the backfield for an additional 66 catches for
383 yards and one touchdown.
You can see how much more formidable the Vikings run defense is when you contrast that with just 855 yards and
four touchdowns allowed to running backs (the sixth and fifth fewest in the league in the corresponding categories)
and 266 yards and three touchdowns to quarterbacks. It suggests that the Raiders would be better off taking to the
skies. Running backs are given an average of 3.7 yards by Minnesota’s defense, which is fourth least in the league,
while Jacobs had a 3.5 yard average per carry going into the game.
Running the ball on early downs is a way for Las Vegas (5-7) to force the issue and put Minnesota’s run defense to
the test. Through the first 12 games of the season, the Silver and Black have done this consistently.
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