![]() He most likely will occupy Belichick's focus in this matchup. He leads the team 1,402 yards on 269 carries for a 5.2-yard average and has 11 touchdowns. Las Vegas' Josh Jacobs is an effective runner who can make plays inside and out. Arizona's James Conner enjoyed success Monday night, averaging almost 6 yards per carry. At other times teams like Green Bay and Buffalo enjoyed tremendous success on the ground as the defense was more worried about the opposing quarterback. When the Patriots have been focused on shutting down the run (Minnesota, Cleveland, Detroit, Jets twice) the defense has been up to the task. It will be interesting to see how Bill Belichick attempts to deal with the Raiders offense. They will need to be dealt with to have success. ![]() The key factor in this matchup is the pass rush, and although the Raiders haven't been great getting after the passer they certainly have the ability to do so with Maxx Crosby (11.5 sacks) and Chandler Jones (4.5) coming off the edges. Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor and Tyquan Thornton will be available, and Stevenson has emerged as Jones' favorite target in many games. Jakobi Meyers was forced to sit out the Cardinals game with a concussion and his status is uncertain, and DeVante Parker was knocked out of that game with a possible concussion as well. Mac Jones has dealt with an ankle injury, spotty pass protection and an at time curious set of game plans and it's added up to a regression in his second season. The Patriots passing game has obviously not been effective most of the season. Ya-Sin is dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of last week's loss to the Rams, and the group is still dealing with the sting of the late-game collapse that saw the Raiders allow a pair of touchdowns in the closing minutes. Corners Rock Ya-Sin, Nate Hobbs, Sam Webb and Amik Robertson join safeties Tre'von Moehring and Duron Harmon, but nothing has worked. Whether it's been health, inconsistency or poor play, Las Vegas hasn't been able to contain quality passing games all year. The Raiders secondary has struggled all season long and ranks 29th in passing yards allowed (254.5) and 28th in yards per pass play (7.2). But until that happens it's hard to have faith that the ground production that was evident in early-season wins over the Lions and Steelers will return. It also would help if some of the banged-up pieces of the offensive line could return, allowing the best five to perform together on a more regular basis. It would help the Patriots cause if Damien Harris (thigh) could return to 100 percent and continue his role alongside Stevenson, who is showing signs of wear and tear from an abnormally heavy workload in recent weeks. That group has allowed the Raiders to rank ninth in the league, allowing 110.5 yards per game on the ground, and seventh at 4.2 yards per carry. Las Vegas has been effective stopping the run with Bilal Nichols, Andrew Billings and Jerry Tillery up front protecting linebackers Denzel Perryman and Luke Masterson. ![]() The results overall have been average at best, as Stevenson at times has created yards on his own but New England has been unable to control the ball consistently. Prior to that Stevenson had been forced to carry the load alone for the better part of the past month, and injuries along the offensive line had impacted the blocking up front. ![]() But rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong provided a lift and perhaps a glimpse of things to come. ® SEAHAWKS, SEAHAWKS LOGO, SPIRIT OF 12, WE ARE 12, BRING ON THE 12, LEGION OF BOOM, 12 and 12S are trademarks of the Seattle Seahawks.The Patriots struggles to regain their early-season form when running the football appeared to be in full effect in Arizona, and when Rhamondre Stevenson limped off the field with an ankle injury things looked bleak.
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