ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A few interesting notes on the Oakland Raiders' running game stemming from their 24-20 win against Kansas City last week:
While it was clear to everyone the impact that Latavius Murray had, he was even more effective than first thought. According to ESPN Stats & Information, of Murray's 112 total rushing yards, 108 came before a Chiefs' defender was able to get a hand on him. That's the most by an Oakland running back since Darren McFadden in Week 3, 2011 when 150 of his 171 yards came before contact. Most of Murray's yards before contact came on his 90-yard touchdown run in the first half, but it's still an illustration of how his speed -- something McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew don't have -- can make a difference. On the season, McFadden has 233 yards before contact while Jones-Drew has just 24, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The 135 total rushing yards before contact that the Raiders put up were the second-most given up by the Chiefs this season.
While Murray was doing most of his damage before getting hit, fullback Marcel Reece did his after being hit. He ran for 34 yards on Oakland's winning drive in the fourth quarter, more than half coming after contact -- 2.6 yards per carry, in fact. That was in stark contrast to earlier in the game when the Raiders got next to nothing after first contact.
