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By the Numbers: Raiders revive the run game in win over Browns

After falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Las Vegas Raiders responded with 20 consecutive points to earn a 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.

It was the Raiders' third win over the last 20 seasons when trailing by 10+ points at the end of the first quarter: Week 3 of 2021 vs Dolphins (Down 14-2, won 31-28 (OT)) and Week 2 of 2020 vs. Saints (Down 10-0, won 34-24).

The Raiders have now won five straight games against the Browns, their second-longest active win streak against any opponent.

Here are some key takeaways and metrics from Sunday's victory.

Reviving The Run Game

The Raiders ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards (153), yards per carry (2.8) and rushing first downs (five) through the first three weeks of the season.

When asked about the team's struggles last week, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy gave a simple answer: "I think we've got to do a better job coaching it, and players [have] to do a better job executing. … We've just got to have greater attention to detail and we will."

That attention to detail showed up on Sunday. Excluding kneeldowns, the Raiders totaled 154 rushing yards on 27 carries (5.7 avg.), the sixth-most rushing yards of any team in Week 4. The Silver and Black finished with seven rushes for 10 or more yards after only accounting for one such play (non-QB) over the first three games.

The Raiders are now 6-1 since the start of last season when they run for at least 100 yards.

Alexander Mattison led the team with 60 rushing yards on five carries and became one of three NFL running backs to average at least 12.0 yards per carry (min. five carries) in a game this season. Additionally, Mattison's three 15+ yard rushes are the most by a Raiders player since Jalen Richard had four in Week 13 of the 2018 season against Kansas City.

Putting The Ball in Playmakers' Hands

While Mattison and Zamir White (17 carries for 50 yards) continued to receive a majority of the touches in the run game, Getsy made a concerted effort to provide opportunities for other players to make an impact.

The Raiders had five different players record a 10+ yard rush on Sunday, their most in a game since 2010.

Rookie tight end Brock Bowers recorded his first career carry (12 yards), Tyreik McAllister totaled his first two career carries (11 total yards) and wide receivers Tre Tucker (three yards) and DJ Turner (18 yards) each scored rushing touchdowns.

It marked the first time in franchise history that the Raiders had two wide receivers score a rushing touchdown in the same game. The last NFL team to have multiple wide receivers score a rushing touchdown in the same game was the New York Jets in 2010 versus Cincinnati (Brad Smith & Jerricho Cotchery).

Responding On Defense

Cleveland came into Week 4 as one of only four NFL teams to score on each of their opening drives this season. Sure enough, quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense marched down the field on their first possession for a 15-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that took up 9:22 of game time.

The Silver and Black defense was ready to respond. The Browns went 3-of-3 on third down on that opening drive but didn't convert a single third down attempt the rest of the game (0-of-7).

"I think as the gameplan went on, we did a good job of finding guys that are key players in those situations," Head Coach Antonio Pierce said. "But then more importantly, I think our rush and coverage added up and made the quarterback hold the ball a little bit. We got some throws, some errant throws that we wanted, and obviously one we took advantage of and got an interception."

The Raiders have now won five straight games when forcing a turnover, dating back to last season.

The defense also totaled 3.0 sacks for the first time this season, the last of which came from Charles Snowden to seal the victory on a fourth-down pass play.

Individual Milestones

Turner's 18-yard touchdown was the first of his career while Tucker recorded a touchdown in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

Rookie offensive linemen DJ Glaze and Jackson Powers-Johnson each started for the first time in their careers and played every offensive snap. Per Next Gen Stats, Glaze and Powers-Johnson combined to allow just one quarterback pressure on 26 pass blocking snaps.

Third-year safety Isaiah Pola-Mao made his first career start in place of the injured Marcus Epps and played every defensive snap. Pola-Mao tallied 1.0 sack, six total tackles and one pass defensed.

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins totaled a half-sack and tied his career-high with three quarterback hits.

View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 4 matchup against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.

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