The Raiders find the play they need to travel against the Broncos

HENDERSON, Nev. – Antonio Pierce played linebacker in the NFL for nine seasons, so the Las Vegas Raiders coach has more than a passing knowledge of what can frustrate and wear down defenses.

And it has little to do with the statements made by the attacking opponent.

“That’s one thing that comes to mind,” Pierce said Monday at his weekly news conference. “You can throw the ball 500, 600 yards, but when the team throws the ball at you, it hits you in the head – mentally, emotionally and physically. And it just tires you out.

“The more you do it, it opens up our pass, our action, our goalies, things like that.”

In other words, it is about taking away the will of the opponent.

Take a look at the Raiders game that finally came in Week 4 and then against the Cleveland Browns.

Consider: Las Vegas, which entered the game with the worst rushing game in the NFL, averaging 2.8 yards per carry and rushing for a total of 153 yards in three games, outrebounded the Browns for 152 yards on the ground, averaging 5.2 yards. for the run.

Then consider that the Raiders have more than just running backs Zamir White and Alexander Mattison, receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner run for touchdowns on gadget plays, and rookie Tight End Brock Bowers receives a 12-yard TD.

Add to that the drama that has unfolded with All-Pro running back Davante Adams, who is now open to a trade, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and well, it’s obvious the Raiders need to make a run for it. Again. Because Adams missed his first game in three seasons in Las Vegas on Sunday with hamstring issues … and the running game was thriving, whether it was related or not.

Passing stats are fancy, but running games travel… and the Raiders will need something like a repeat performance on Sunday at the Denver Broncos, which limited the New York Jets to 64 rushing yards while averaging 2.8 yards per carry in Week 4 victory.

And so, according to ESPN Research, the Raiders were the first team this season to have multiple rushing TDs by wide receivers in the same game.

“I mean, it keeps the defense on its toes and makes them think,” said Mattison, who rushed for a game-high 60 yards on just five carries. “They don’t know who’s going to get the ball, they don’t know where the ball is going. So the fact that we can stop them… thinking like that is huge.”

Something else the Broncos defense should consider going forward: What will the new-look Raiders offensive line look like?

Rookie second-round draft pick Jackson Powers-Johnson made his first NFL start at left guard, between left guard Kolton Miller and center Andre James, and later moved to right guard when Dylan Parham strained his Achilles tendon. Fellow rookie DJ Glaze started at right tackle, replacing Thayer Munford Jr., who is dealing with ankle and knee injuries.

Cody Whitehair replaced Powers-Johnson on the left wing as the rookie made an eight-snap change in the second half.

“If it wasn’t for (Powers-Johnson) and the big guys up front, there would have been no running game, and this would have been his coming out party,” Mattison added. “He had a great, great day there, and I’m looking forward to continuing to move forward and get the whole O-line healthy and get them out there and moving forward. We’ll just continue to ride the wave and emphasize our running game and hit shots.”

Powers-Johnson, who was slowed down in training camp and missed the Raiders’ first two games with an injury, credited his “incredible running backs” with the run game he showed off against the Browns (yes, even after White’s costly fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter that ended with a Browns score).

The Raiders had eight rushing first downs against Cleveland after five first downs in the first three games combined.

Continuing to run instead of panicking helped Las Vegas earn its second double-digit victory so far after failing to record any wins last season.

Additionally, based on the scores of Tucker (3 yards back) and Turner (18 yards inside), this was the first time the Raiders had multiple rushing TDs off receivers in the same game since Devontae Booker and Josh Jacobs did so in Week 9 of the 2020 season at the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Everyone did their job,” Powers-Johnson said. “Everyone made their eleven and we just played with complementary ball. We blocked each other; We didn’t block just for ourselves. We blocked each other and I think that’s why we had a good week.

“And the great thing is that next week we will be able to prove it.”

The Broncos, who are on a two-game winning streak, have limited their last two opponents to a combined 155 rushing yards.

That’s another reason why the Raiders should get their ground game early and often in Denver, right?

As Pierce said, this has been his team’s goal since training camp.

“Hey, man, let’s start this running game,” Pierce told the team in Costa Mesa, California. “Let’s get some positive yards. Let’s do these chunk runs, these explosive runs.

“And it really showed. Again, when it comes to defense, you don’t want that.”

Duly noted.