Oakland Raiders: Keys to beating Denver Broncos in week two matchup

Running Game Must Get on Track

Room to run was in short supply against the stacked defense in LA, there’s no question about that. But, the threat of a good running game helps keep a defense in check. And it worked well in the first half against the Rams.

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The threat of Marshawn Lynch breaking free allowed Carr to operate efficiently. Especially, on that opening drive when the Raiders blended some power running from Lynch, with Carr’s precision passing, allowing for Oakland to punch it in – or rather, for Lynch to carry half the Rams defense on his back, and plow it into the endzone for the score.

While not dominating, the 15 carries for 55 yards Oakland’s ground put up were timely. And the threat was sufficient enough that it kept the Rams from pinning their ears back and getting after Carr.

Which is why the move away from the running game in the second half was so curious and ill-conceived.

Oakland carried the ball just eight times in the second half. Eight. No, they weren’t on the field for very long (just over eight minutes), but that could be in part because they could not extend drives. Could not take time off the clock.

That’s tough to do when you can’t run the ball. Even tougher when you don’t even try to run the ball.

For an offensive attack predicated on a power running game, Oakland left a lot to be desired against the Rams. They’re going to need to step it up against the Broncos. Denver is tough against the run, which means Oakland’s offensive line is going to have to be on point, and the backs are going to have to seize every opportunity they can to get into that second level of the defense.

For Oakland’s offense to truly flourish, the running game has got to get on track.