The Las Vegas Raiders now stand at 2-4, keeping their playoff hopes alive after overcoming a sloppy first half.
As the first half drew closer to its conclusion, you could tell Josh Jacobs was going to take over at some point. On the final drive of the half for the Raiders, Jacobs pushed the offense during their 10-play, 82-yard drive.
He caught four passes for 16 yards and rushed for 21 yards on the ground as Las Vegas tied things up at halftime, 10-10. It was just a small taste of what was to happen as Jacobs galloped to 143 yards and three touchdowns.
Given his impressive run as of late, is he the best Raiders running back since Marcus Allen?
It’s easy to draw comparisons following a crucial victory, especially when you consider how much was on the line. If the Raiders lost this game against the Houston Texans, a 1-5 hole would’ve likely sealed the 2022 season.
Instead, Jacobs once again proved why he’s arguably the offensive MVP this year. In the last three contests, Jacobs has quite literally carried the team, though overall, the Raiders have come up short. On Sunday, they made sure that Jacobs’ efforts weren’t wasted. There’s still much football to be played, but Jacobs’s trajectory points to him having a special season.
Allen, who was in attendance for the game at Allegiant Stadium, is arguably the greatest running back in the organization’s history. Nevertheless, comparisons between him and Jacobs are fair when you consider the impact that Jacobs has had since joining the Raiders. Without question, Jacobs was the best of a trio of first-round draft picks back in 2019. So, what do the numbers say about a comparison between a legend and, perhaps, a legend in the making?