Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns: 3 bold predictions in Week 15
1. The Return of the Run Game
The Raiders have produced only one 100-yard rusher this season so far, and the bad news is that it was not starting running back Josh Jacobs, but a third-string back in Peyton Barber. If last season was any indicator of how this Raider team can be successful against this Cleveland Browns defense, it would be the running game.
Last season, Jacobs shredded the Browns defense, and in a game when quarterback Derek Carr barely threw for over 100 yards, the onus will once again be on the running game.
The running game has been nowhere to be seen in terms of production for this franchise this season, but maybe the narrative will change as it has to be a focal point considering the harsh weather conditions in Cleveland.
The offensive line has done a poor job of producing holes for Jacobs this season, who is more of a power back who does his best work in between the tackles — but a back can not produce much of anything when he is swarmed by virtually an entire defense on every attempt.
The offensive line must produce for Jacobs and the Raiders to taste victory in this one, which has become a rarity in this horrendous second half of the season for the Raiders. But the prediction here is that the Raiders can get back to football 101 and return to the formula of running the ball which was the key in last season’s victory over Cleveland.