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Oakland Raiders: 5 matchups to watch vs. Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16

By John Buhler

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Karl Joseph No. 42 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after sacking the quarterback and recovering a fumble against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of their NFL football game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Raiders won the game 45-20. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman No. 53 of the Oakland Raiders warms up prior to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 19: NaVorro Bowman No. 53 of the Oakland Raiders warms up prior to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 19, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

NaVorro Bowman vs. Jay Ajayi

Stopping the Philadelphia rushing attack will be so difficult for the Raiders. Not only do they have a battering ram in LeGarrette Blount, but it’s almost unfair that the Eagles were able to land former Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi mid-season. That’s a one-two punch no inside linebacker will be happy to go up against.

Yet, that is the situation for veteran inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman. After a rocky start to his 2017 NFL season with the rebuilding San Francisco 49ers, Bowman came aboard the Oakland ship as a high-end, on-field mentor to a weak Raiders linebacking corps. Bowman’s play has improved and he has done wonders in rookie Nicholas Morrow‘s development.

While Morrow has shown that he can be an effective playmaker in pass coverage, it is still the Bowman show when it comes to stuffing the run for the Silver and Black. Though Blount may need to be taken down by the guys in the trenches, it could be Bowman’s job to contain Ajayi every time he steps foot on the Philadelphia gridiron.

Philadelphia has the upper hand in so many areas in this game, but the Raiders can’t win if they can’t stop the run. With Ajayi as the Eagles’ newfound third-down running back, look for Bowman to play with keen awareness every time No. 36 lines up in the backfield with Nick Foles under center.

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