After a strong rookie season, Josh Jacobs returned to the field in Week 1 with vengeance. He missed the final three games of the 2019 season, which likely cost him a shot at winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
In his first game back since his shoulder injury, Jacobs looked like a star, running all over the Panthers’ defense. When they needed him to convert in short yardage, he did. When they needed him to contribute as a receiver, he accomplished that as well. He was completely and utterly dominant in the first week of the season.
In a recent piece by Doug Farrar of the Touchdown Wire, he wrote about the secret superstars of Week 1. Not surprisingly, Jacobs appeared on the list after his 139-yard, three-touchdown day. Take a look at Farrar’s thoughts on Jacobs against Carolina:
“We now know that Jacobs is no one-year wonder based on his amazing performance against the Panthers’ (admittedly leaky) run defense in a 34-30 win. Jacobs forced an incredible 10 missed tackles and scored three rushing touchdowns for a true tour de force to start his second NFL season.”
The Raiders have a clear path to victory in the 2020 season. They want to run the ball, complete a high percentage of short to intermediate passes and limit turnovers. With their offensive line and Jacobs in the backfield, they will be able to run the ball against any team in the league.
More massive days are coming from Jacobs as he looks to establish himself as the best running back in the NFL.