Oakland Raiders: 5 takeaways from win over Denver Broncos

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OAKLAND, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Marshawn Lynch No. 24 of the Oakland Raiders rushes with the ball against the Denver Broncos during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /

Marshawn Lynch is coming on as the season progresses.

Ever since he got ejected from Week 7’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs for shoving an official, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch has gotten progressively better in the Oakland backfield. While he’s not rushing for over 100 yards in these most recent games, he is providing the balance Oakland needs to continue its playoff push.

Lynch has been able to pound the rock over 20 times per game without wearing down. His runs are punishing and opposing defenses struggle to contain him in all four quarters. With a few catches out of the backfield, Lynch was able to go over 100 all-purpose yards on Sunday en route to victory.

Simply put, he was the best player for the Raiders on Sunday. By being able to lean on him in the ground game, it allowed quarterback Derek Carr to have more opportunities to make plays through the air in the second half. Yes, we would have liked to have seen the tight ends more involved in the passing game on Sunday, but this was the most balanced the Raiders’ offense has looked in quite some time.

As the weather changes, it becomes more imperative to run the ball with conviction. Fortunately for the Raiders, Lynch is coming on as the season progresses. He is leading by example on the field for how to use the run to open up the pass. His success on the ground going forward is key to if the Raiders will contend for an AFC playoff spot.

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