RB Josh Jacobs

That’s not to say Jacobs doesn’t always run hard. He does. And he’s always worth watching.

But this week could be special for Jacobs and the Raiders. The first-round pick out of Alabama is sitting on 923 rushing yards, already a rookie record for the franchise, so he has a great shot of crossing the 1,000-yard mark in just his 11th game of the season.

Watch to see if Jacobs can hit that impressive milestone. He doesn’t have to succeed, however. Oakland is facing a stout run defense, and coach Jon Gruden could use him in the passing game more often this week.

Still, given Jacobs’ season thus far, he’ll be very close to hitting 1,000 yards regardless of the situation. It’s yet another reason to watch this incredibly talented runner.

The Raiders’ task this week isn’t full of intrigue. It’s a business trip if there ever was one. Luckily, or by design, Oakland’s grind-it-out, physical mentality, instilled by Gruden, should travel well. It’s the defense; however, that’s key.

But neither unit lacks motivation, they may just have to dig a beat deeper to find it. If the Raiders stay mentally strong and get past this mundane challenge, they’ll face the rival Kansas City Chiefs the following week, with each club carrying a 7-4 record. And how’s that for excitement?

[vertical-gallery id=57972]