Raiders: Running the football might decide the AFC West

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Running back Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders walks onto the field before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 09: Running back Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders walks onto the field before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on January 09, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 35-32 in overtime. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
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Raiders helmet
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: (EDITORS NOTE – This image has been converted to black and white) Oakland Raiders helmet is seen on the field after the game between Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 06, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

With each of the four teams in the AFC West in possession of a powerful air attack, how does one team get the advantage offensively?

When it comes to the 2022 off-season, no division has benefitted more than the AFC West. From Davante Adams to Russell Wilson, outside star-power has flocked in, ensuring each of the four teams has a deadly offense to operate with. Even players such as Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster now call the division home, solidifying the offense depth the AFC West shoulders.

It isn’t only the division’s new additions that make the offenses lethal, either. Before Wilson’s arrival, the AFC West had already housed 3 high-end quarterbacks. Two of the top five tight ends in the NFL can also be found here, and outside threats like Courtland Sutton and the recently re-signed Mike Williams had already been contributing in their respective passing games.

With each team now possessing a promising air attack, how does one make a leap above the rest? The answer is by making yourself more versatile, which in this case, is running the football.

Do the Las Vegas Raiders have the running back personnel to solidify themselves as front-runners on the ground? Do the rest of the teams in the AFC West have enough talent in their running games to keep up with the Silver and Black? Let’s talk about it.

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