Oakland Raiders vs Cincinnati Bengals: Bold predictions for Week 15

3. Both teams combine for over 300 rushing yards

Here’s an interesting little tidbit for you: at this moment, these two teams own the two worst rushing defenses in the NFL. Giving up a combined 292.6 rushing yards per game, neither defense has been able to slow opposing running backs in 2018.

So what makes this a bold prediction? If they’re giving up almost 300 total rushing yards per game anyway, it doesn’t exactly seem like going out on a limb, does it?

Well, here’s the other part of this story: the Bengals and Raiders are combining for just a hair over 200 rushing yards per game. Ranked 26th and 25th in the league in rushing, respectively, they’ve both had a hard time getting the ground game going this season. That’s all about to change in Week 15 when they go head-to-head.

Seems like an odd idea, right? For most of the year, the Raiders have thrived by throwing the football. However, up against Cincinnati’s defense, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Oakland lean on Doug Martin and Jalen Richard early. The same goes for the Bengals, who figure to mix in plenty of Joe Mixon with Jeff Driskel under center.

If I had to guess, though, I’d say the edge will go to Cincinnati. Mixon will have a career day, surpassing his career high in single-game rushing yards, which was set at 123 back in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.