Oakland Raiders: A Few Notable Numbers Through Two Weeks Of Play

144.5

When the Raiders let Latavius Murray walk away as a free agent and lured Marshawn Lynch of our retirement to play for the Silver and Black, there was some question about whether or not the Oakland ground game would be improved. Mostly because Lynch had been out of football for a season – the year after he had an injury-plagued, mostly ineffective season for Seattle.

The whole time though, some posited that the year away from football did more to heal Lynch’s body and rejuvenate him than build up a layer of rust that wouldn’t be easy to shake off.

Last season, with Murray as the bellcow, the Raiders logged the league’s sixth-best rushing attack. Then-rookies Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington complemented Murray’s bigger, more physical style of running with their quick cuts and quicker acceleration in open space.

Fast forward to today and Oakland’s ground game – to this point – appears to be in better shape than even last year’s group. Running behind that powerful offensive line – arguably, the best in the league – the Raiders are averaging 144.5 yards per game. Which currently gives them the fifth best running attack in the league.

Lynch is looking a lot more like vintage Beast Mode than the dinged up, seemingly worn out running back who last appeared in Seattle. He’s running at – and through – people. Just ask Titans 300 pound defensive tackle Jurrell Casey who might still be trying to get Lynch’s cleat marks off his chest.

Running behind a better line than he ever had in Seattle, Lynch does appear to be rejuvenated. And by limiting his carries and spreading the load around with Richard, Washington, and even a few carries for Cordarrelle Patterson, Oakland is doing their best to keep him fresh for the 16 game stretch.

The early returns on Oakland’s ground game are good. Strong. And perhaps, even better than last year’s incarnation. Which is only going to help the passing game – and the offense as a whole.