The Las Vegas Raiders came out of the bye week with a vengeance, dropping a season-high 38 points in their victory over the Houston Texans. While most of the focus, rightfully, is on Josh Jacobs’ latest excellent performance and a solid, turnover-free day from Derek Carr, the offensive line is also due for some praise.
Jacobs doesn’t rush for 143 yards and three touchdowns without the offensive line creating the holes for him to run through. And after allowing five sacks in Week 1, the Raiders’ line has allowed Carr to be taken down just seven times in the five games since, including just once against the Texans.
Following the Raiders’ impressive win, Carr took some time to give credit to the big men in front of him.
“I’m just so proud of them, man,” Carr said. “They’ve been pushed really hard and it’s something we’ve talked about since OTAs and training camp. We’ve had conversations about different people moving spots and all that kind of stuff, and I’m just so proud of them. It’s never going to be perfect, especially in this league against the guys that they’re playing. But I’m proud of them, they’ve worked really hard.”
“[Carmen] Carm [Bricillo] and [Cameron] Cam [Clemmons] have done a great job at teaching and watching them grow has been awesome because we got the running game going, pass game,” the Raiders’ quarterback added. “Sacks are going to happen every now and then, especially in this league, and all that kind of stuff. But they’ll be the first one to tell you there’s stuff they’d love to clean up, but I’m proud of the way that they’re playing and we’re going to need them to do that and as we go forward.”
The skill position players of the Raiders got all of the attention coming into the season with the addition of Davante Adams along with Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, and Jacobs giving new coach Josh McDaniels an array of options. But the offensive line was the question mark, and the team’s success will undoubtedly be predicated on how they grow and perform.
It is still early enough for the Raiders to turn things around and get back into the playoff race in the AFC. With Jacobs dominating and the Carr-Adams connection being so strong, the Raiders’ offense has the potential to be as good as any in the NFL. And with the line performing up to par recently, it just might be.
