The Oakland Raiders have done a nice job running the ball to start the year, but getting Richie Incognito back will prove invaluable in Week 3 and beyond.
The Oakland Raiders suffered their first loss of the season this past Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs came into RingCentral Coliseum and won 28-10 against their division rival. Patrick Mahomes threw for four touchdowns in the second quarter alone, and that was all the team needed, as the Chiefs ran their record to 2-0 on the young season.
For the Raiders, that will be the last time they play at home until early November, which is downright absurd in itself. As they look to start their road warrior trip, they begin in Minnesota, where they will take on a Green Bay Packers team who is also coming off a big divisional loss in Week 2.
During the Raiders Week 2 loss to Kansas City, the team had some issues up front along the offensive line, specifically with Denzelle Good at the right tackle position. In Week 3, Good should be shuffling to the bench, as former Pro Bowler Richie Incognito is slated to make his Raiders debut after missing the first two games of the season due to a suspension.
With how good Jordan Devey has played early on in place of Incognito, he should be moved to the right side until Gabe Jackson returns, who will miss the next few weeks with a knee injury. With how well offensive tackles Kolton Miller and Trent Brown have played early on, and with arguably the best center in the league in Rodney Hudson in the middle, this has a chance to be one of the better offensive lines in all of football.
When he is right, Incognito has the power, and talent to be one of the better guards in all of football. Unfortunately, he has struggled with off the field issues during his career, but since putting on the Silver and Black, he has looked like a new man in terms of how he is carrying himself as a person, and teammate.
There is no doubt that Incognito returning will be a big boost to a rushing attack who already has one of the best backs in football in rookie Josh Jacobs. Jacobs has rushed for the fourth-most yards on the group of any player in football this season, all while only carrying the ball 12 times in last week’s loss.
With Jackson appearing to be doing well in his rehab as well, this already dominant Raiders offensive line could be back to full swing before you know it. This is a very daunting road trip the team is about to embark on, so making sure they are 100 percent in the trenches should prove huge in Week 3 and beyond.