The Las Vegas Raiders‘ rushing attack remains a significant concern, highlighted by their 41-24 Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders on September 21 at Northwest Stadium.
Las Vegas managed just 93 yards on the ground, with rookie Ashton Jeanty accounting for 63 of those. Ashton Jeanty carried the ball 17 times, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt.
While it’s a slight improvement, Las Vegas will need a much stronger ground game to find consistency as the season progresses. Nonetheless, the Raiders’ rushing attack will look to get going against the Chicago Bears in Week 4.
Moreover, former Raiders quarterback David Carr is showing faith in Jeanty and the offensive line, and they can get the running game going against Chicago.
“Let’s not just be gossipers,” Carr said while breaking down film on the Home Grown Network. “Let’s not say, ‘Oh, Jeanty can’t do it.’ (…) Let’s just get him some clean space. I believe in the Raiders.
“These Bears are coming to town, and they’re going to say, ‘You can’t run on us. You’re not running. We’re going to keep going after you. We’re going to move the front. We’re going to bring edge pressures. We’re going to bring an odd pre.’
“I promise you, the Raiders are going to work this so thoroughly. Will it be perfect this week? I don’t know. I hope so. But these things take time. They’re in a new system and making new calls. If they have the intensity and urgency to keep working, Raider fans, and I’m in there with you, we’re going to be just fine.”
Raiders’ Chip Kelly Talks Ashton Jeanty Concerns
While much of the attention is on Jeanty and the Raiders’ struggling run game, offensive coordinator Chip Kelly pointed to the tough defenses they’ve faced, noting how those teams have made it difficult to get their ground attack going.
“I think it’s the defenses right now,” Kelly told reporters on September 25. “If you look at it statistically, Ashton Jeanty’s tied for 10th in the league for carries with two other guys. Of the top 12 backs in the National Football League through three games, there are only four who average over four yards a carry: Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams, Bijan Robinson, and [James] Cook from Buffalo.
“Everybody else—Saquon Barkley averages 3.3 yards per carry, Christian McCaffrey averages three yards per carry. So Ashton Jeanty’s right in the bunch with those guys. I think across the league through the first three games, defenses are ahead of offenses at a big rate… That’s just the league. Sometimes defenses are ahead, then offenses catch up, and it goes back and forth. That’s the nature of this game.”
Las Vegas Have Faced Challenging Run Defenses
In the first three games, the Silver and Black have played a couple of the top run defenses in the NFL. The New England Patriots (181 yards), Los Angeles Chargers (284 yards), and Commanders (302 yards) are the top defenses in rushing yards allowed, per Pro Football Reference.
Now, against the Bears, the Raiders should have more room to run. Chicago has given up 418 rushing yards so far this season, making this Week 4 matchup a potential breakout opportunity for Jeanty.
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