LAS VEGAS – While the Las Vegas Raiders had a special visitor at Saturday’s walk through practice, All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs received some specific advice from said visitor that he will take into Sunday night’s game against the New York Jets, if not the rest of the season.
Bo Jackson, the Raiders’ two-sport star from 1987 to 1991, had Jacobs’ undivided attention.
“Man, you run a motherf—er over, and then you pick him up,” Jackson said to Jacobs. “You say, ‘All right, I’m going to come back 40 seconds later.'”
“And,” Jacobs added softly, “I tried to have that mentality.”
Indeed, Jacobs rushed for a season-high 116 yards in the Raiders’ 16-12 victory over the Jets, which evened Las Vegas’ record at 5-5 (2-0 under interim coach Antonio Pierce). It was his first 100-yard rushing game since Dec. 4, 2022, a 14-game streak. This skein also included Jacobs rushing for minus-2 yards against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2, the first time a defending league rushing champion finished a game with negative rushing yardage since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
And with the toughest part of the Raiders’ schedule looming – at the Miami Dolphins (6-3) this Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Hard Rock Stadium, CBS) and at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) on Nov. 26 – the Raiders will need Jacobs to keep up his recent production.
Consider this: Jacobs struggled to get going under former coach and offensive playcaller Josh McDaniels, rushing for 408 yards on 3.1 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns in eight games. To be sure, Jacobs sat out the entire offseason program, training camp, and exhibition season due to a contract dispute.
Jacobs has rushed for 214 yards on 4.0 yards per attempt and two touchdowns in two games under interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive playcaller after McDaniels was fired on Oct. 31.
The Dolphins, who are coming off a bye week, have the NFL’s 13th-ranked run defense. The Chiefs are ranked 17th.
Jacobs ran behind a reimagined offensive line against the Jets’ fearsome front, with stalwart left tackle Kolton Miller sidelined by a shoulder injury. Jermaine Eluemunor moved from right tackle to the left side, and Thayer Munford Jr. started at right tackle.
The Raiders’ run game got off to a slow start, with Jacobs gaining only two yards on one carry in the first quarter. At halftime, he had 28 yards on nine attempts.
Pierce stated early in the week that one of his messages to the Raiders was the need to impose their will.
“You saw what time it was in the second half, right?” Josh Jacobs Time had arrived. Hammer Time had arrived. And you could feel the energy not only from our offensive line and running back in our offense, but also from our entire team. It changed our entire mindset in the third quarter, and I believe that’s when things began to shift in our favor.”
“You saw what time it was in the second half, right?” Josh Jacobs Time had arrived. Hammer Time had arrived. And you could feel the energy not only from our offensive line and running back in our offense, but also from our entire team. It changed our entire mindset in the third quarter, and I believe that’s when things began to shift in our favor.”
“I told [Pierce] on the sideline, ‘Everybody don’t want the burden,” Jacobs said. ‘S—, I want the burden,’ I said. Put the burden on me, and whatever happens, I think I can handle it.’
“It was like a slugfest out there.” On some plays, I was getting hit by three or four [Jets players]. ‘Damn!’ I exclaimed.”
Jacobs finally broke one late in the third quarter, his 40-yard dash up the gut and then down the right sideline his longest run of the season. He also credited right guard Greg Van Roten.
“Look, [the Jets] want you to bounce outside,” Van Roten said in the huddle to Jacobs. “Stay inside. Just have faith in it.”
What was Jacobs’ response?
“OK, I’ve got you,” he said to his offensive lineman.
“Literally, that next play, we hit a big one,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs’ 16th career game with at least 100 yards rushing broke a tie with Clem Daniels for second-most in Raiders history. Only Marcus Allen, a Hall of Famer, has more, with 22.
But it was not without drama. What’s the point? After all, these are the Raiders, and they rarely do things easily.
Or did you miss Jacobs’ fumble, his second of the game, at the Jets’ 25-yard line with more than six minutes remaining, on a drive that could have put the game out of reach much sooner?
Instead, the Jets drove down to the Raiders’ 20-yard line, where middle linebacker Robert Spillane intercepted Jets quarterback Zach Wilson and returned it 25 yards with 74 seconds remaining.
Still, after the Raiders were forced to punt, the defense had to withstand a last-second Hail Mary pass into the end zone to keep the game alive.
That’s when Jacobs could finally exhale.
“I was just hoping the defense didn’t let me down,” he said, smiling and shaking his head.
“They saved me today, so I went up personally and shook all their hands after the game.”
Discuss a special visit and a particular message. One that should be remembered for the rest of the season, and especially this weekend in Miami.
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