Richie Incognito
After ironing out some personal issues the veteran’s comeback has gone extremely well. Richie Incognito is making a strong case for the Pro Bowl and his PFF run-blocking grade ranks in the top 10 at his position. All of this has helped the Raiders average 128.2 rushing yards per game, the ninth-most in the league.
While Oakland has a top-10 rushing attack, this week it will be difficult to get the ground game going as the Jets surrender a league a best 79.1 yards per game. Part of the reason for the success in New York is the team has a handful of very talented defensive tackles.
Steve McLendon and Folorunso Fatukasi each have five tackles for loss and while rookie Quinnen Williams hasn’t lived up to his high expectations, he was the third overall pick for a reason.
Running the ball is an integral part of the Raiders offense and if the team can’t move the ball on the ground, putting points on the board will be extremely difficult. Incognito is the best run-blocker on the team, so Oakland will need him to continue his Pro Bowl-caliber play. The old man is a 12-year NFL veteran and that experience should pay dividends against the Jets young pups.