The Las Vegas Raiders discovered unexpected help on Sunday when it came to finally building a running game: their receivers.
Wide receivers DJ Turner and Tre Tucker both rushed for touchdowns, and tight end Brock Bowers had a 12-yard run. This opened things up for running backs Alexander Mattison and Zamir White, who together rushed for 110 yards on 22 carries in Las Vegas’ 20-16 win over the Browns.
Before this game, the Raiders had only 153 rushing yards in their first three games, but they gained 152 yards on the ground against Cleveland.
One way they achieved this was by using the receivers to stretch the Browns’ defense sideways. Turner’s 18-yard touchdown came from a sweep, and Tucker’s 3-yard TD was from a reverse play.
“It’s extremely important for us because you get them running side to side,” Mattison said. “You get their eyes in the wrong place, and it helps us out, getting guys running out of the wrong gaps. It’s one of those things we want to make sure we keep them on their toes doing a bunch of different things.”
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce didn’t guarantee on Monday that they would keep using the running game this way, saying it would depend on each week’s game plan.
But Pierce acknowledged that it worked well against the Browns.
“I think it makes the defense tired when you chase these little receivers that run 4.2, 4.3 (in the 40-yard dash),” Pierce said. “I think you saw that from their defense as the game went on.”
He also mentioned that he would do whatever it takes to win, which includes giving more carries to Mattison.
Despite the new strategies, White continued to struggle, averaging only 2.9 yards per carry for a total of 50 yards. He is averaging 3.1 yards for the season.
