Running back Josh Jacobs returned to the Raiders after agreeing to a one-year deal that will see him earn up to $12 million this season.
Last season, Jacobs led the NFL in total touches with 393, over 23 per game. However, he missed the training camp after he and the organization couldn’t agree on a long-term contract.
Denver head coach Sean Payton still expects to see the running back who has run all over the Broncos in his first four seasons.
“Our plan defensively is, here are the key players,” Payton said via Mike Klis of 9News Denver. “He certainly is one of the more dominant running backs in the NFL, so that’s how we’ll approach the game.”
Jacobs led the league in rushing last season. But he also has posted several of his best games against the divisional opponent.
He’s rushed for 721 yards with nine touchdowns in seven games versus Denver.
He has 574 rushing yards in eight games against Kansas City and 585 yards in seven games against Los Angeles.
Last season, Jacobs rushed for 144 yards and two TDs in a Week 4 win and 109 yards in Las Vegas’ Week 11 victory.
The Raiders have beaten the Broncos in six consecutive matchups and seven out of the last eight.
The only time Denver’s won since 2019 was the last game of that season when Jacobs didn’t play due to injury.
“Our plan defensively is, ‘Here’s their key players,’ and he’s certainly one of the more dominant running backs in the NFL,” Payton said of Jacobs via The Athletic. “That’s how we’ll approach the game.”
Denver Broncos head Coach Sean Payton will coach his first regular season game since 2021 when they face off against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.
Ahead of the matchup, Payton acknowledged one roadblock that could cause his team trouble.
The Raiders have a new quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, start the season. But they will still have an impressive running game led by All-Pro running back Josh Jacobs.
Payton discussed the team’s game plan against Jacobs and believes the two-time Pro Bowler is “one of the most dominant running backs in the NFL.”
Jacobs proved to be worthy of every bit of Payton’s praise last season, recording a league-leading 1,653 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns.
The Broncos notably finished as one of the worst teams in football last year with a 5-12 record.
Payton and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will have a plan to hopefully limit the back who’s come to be known colloquially around the Mile High City as the ‘Bronco Killer.’
“We wouldn’t tailor our plan expect, I mean, our plan defensively is here are the key players,” Payton said on Monday during a conference call with media.”
“He certainly is one of the more dominant running backs in the NFL. So that’s how we’ll approach the game.”
Jacobs is coming off an immense season rushing for 1,653 yards on 340 attempts (4.9 yards per carry), 12 touchdowns, and 53 receptions for 400 yards through the air.
He earned the NFL rushing crown, a first-team All-Pro selection, and a Pro Bowl nod.
Jacobs seems to get his dander up specifically for the Broncos, as evidenced by his 335 yards and two touchdowns across two games last year.
The Raiders won both.
The Raiders currently own a six-game winning streak over the Broncos.
Raiders head coach Josh Mcdaniels, easily the most hated man in Denver after he torpedoed the team as Mike Shanahan’s successor from 2009-10, is undrafted against his former team.
In Payton’s first regular-season home game as head coach, he’ll get the chance to snap the Broncos’ ignominious losing streak to their hated AFC West rival and, hopefully, start the 2023 campaign off on the right note.
Having a plan to contain Jacobs will be crucial to that end.
