Oakland Raiders: The Stats Behind the Marshawn Lynch Deal
By Erik Lambert
Acquiring Marshawn Lynch is about more than adding more star power and championship experience to a young roster for the Oakland Raiders.
Of course there is just something about having Beast Mode on the roster that gives things an extra charge. The Seattle Seahawks haven’t reached the Super Bowl since his role was reduced in their offense in 2015 and then removed entirely in 2016. His threat on the ground made life so much easier for Russell Wilson, who has taken a serious beating since the Seahawks decided to throw the football more often.
Oakland is hoping to employ the game plan that got Seattle to two Super Bowls in 2013 and 2014. Pound the ball with Lynch in order to keep the heat of star quarterback Derek Carr. The stats from last season back up how important this addition could be.
- Raiders record when going over 100 yards in a game: 8-2
- Raiders record when going under 100 yards in a game: 4-3
It was the same in 2015 too. The Raiders were 4-2 in games with 100+ yards rushing and 3-7 when they didn’t. Everybody knows in order to reach the Super Bowl they’ll have to go through New England. History shows teams that can do that are ones able to run the football.
Of course it also takes pressure off the defense as well. Something Jack Del Rio is very keen on. In 2016 the Raiders defense gave up 27 or more points just twice in the 10 games they managed 100 yards or more on the ground. In the other six games it didn’t? It happened four times. Controlling the football and the line of scrimmage is what Lynch can do for a team. Of course assuming he’s healthy and in shape.
Oakland could be making a franchise-altering move here, even if it’s just for one season.