Darren McFadden Will Be X-Factor For Oakland Raiders In Week 8

By Michael Compton @MWCompton on October 23, 2014

If the winless Oakland Raiders are going to become the second team in a row to earn their first win of the season at the expense of the Cleveland Browns, interim head coach Tony Sparano’s squad need only watch the game film of the Browns’ loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week.

The Jaguars entered their game against the Browns with the NFL’s worst rushing offense. Behind a breakout game from second-year running back and reformed quarterback Denard Robinson, the Jaguars pushed a Browns’ defense — which allows five yards per carry and a league-worst 156 rushing yards per game — all over the field en route to a runaway win.

For the Raiders to be successful on the road against the Browns on Sunday, running back Darren McFadden, the Raiders’ X-factor in Week 8, will have to bring the Raiders’ lifeless rushing attack to life, much like Robinson did for the Jaguars a week ago in Jacksonville. Employing a similar strategy may just help the Raiders, mired in their worst start since 1962, regain their swagger.

Granted, McFadden enters Sunday’s contest averaging a meager 3.8 yards per carry, but there have been signs in recent weeks that the former first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in 2008 might be returning to his best form. That’s a positive sign for a team that is begging for playmakers to emerge.

McFadden possesses plenty of upside as a dual-threat running back, but he has been slowed by injuries in recent years and has yet to realize his full potential. He enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2010, rushing for a career-high 1,157 yards and scoring seven rushing touchdowns. While not yet posting big numbers, McFadden is healthy, he’s more involved in the offense and his touches should continue to increase.

Against the San Diego Chargers in Week 6, McFadden turned in a notable performance. He carried the ball 14 times for a season-high 80 yards, good for an average of 5.7 yards per carry against a defense that at the time ranked ninth in the league against the run. He also snagged two catches. It was McFadden’s highest output since he ran for 129 yards against the Jaguars in Week 2 of the 2013 season. Against a Browns defense that struggles with the run, McFadden may very well record a new season best on Sunday.

A productive running game will also help rookie signal-caller Derek Carr, who continues to improve each week. The unflappable first-year quarterback, who has thrown for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns through six games, is ahead of the curve, but he stands to benefit greatly from a more balanced offensive attack.

Whether or not the Browns’ nightmarish defensive performance against the Jaguars is a one-game aberration remains to be see n. One thing is certain: the Raiders continue to fight hard on the field and have been close to breaking through against better teams. If they get the running game in gear on Sunday and a rejuvenated McFadden can lead the charge, the Raiders may finally have something to show for it in the win column.

Michael Compton is a Jacksonville Jaguars writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter at @MWCompton and connect with him on Google.