The Raiders held Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew (32) to just 27 yards rushing on 10 carries. Photo by Tony Gonzales.
Through nine weeks this year, Oakland's defense is holding up well against the run. After finishing 18th a season ago in rushing yards allowed per game, the Raiders currently rank sixth in the NFL this season, allowing just 94.6 yards per game. Here is where the defense stacks up against the rest of the league:
| Rank | Team | Rushing Yds./Game | Rushing Yards | Attempts |
| 1. | NY Jets | 73.8 | 664 | 221 |
| 2. | Carolina | 79.1 | 644 | 171 |
| 3. | Denver | 81.5 | 652 | 192 |
| 4. | Arizona | 88.3 | 706 | 203 |
| 5. | Green Bay | 94.5 | 756 | 191 |
| 6. | Oakland | 94.6 | 757 | 201 |
The Raiders have allowed just one first-half rushing touchdown this season. In eight games, the Raiders have allowed just 41.8 first-half rushing yards per game, including just 69 against Philadelphia in Week 9. Oakland now ranks fourth in the NFL, allowing just 41.8 rushing yards per game in the first half.
Since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995, the team has limited the opposition to less than two yards per carry in a game only 12 times, including three this year. The 1.8 yards per carry allowed vs. Jacksonville, the 1.9 allowed vs. San Diego and the 1.8 allowed vs. Pittsburgh were the third, fourth and fifth time in the last two seasons the Silver and Black have allowed an average of less than two yards per carry.
| Date | Opponent | Rushing Yards | Attempts | Avg. |
| 12/16/12 | Kansas City | 10 | 10 | 1.0 |
| 9/10/12 | San Diego | 32 | 20 | 1.6 |
| 9/15/13 | Jacksonville | 34 | 19 | 1.8 |
| 10/27/13 | Pittsburgh | 35 | 19 | 1.8 |
| 10/6/13 | San Diego | 36 | 19 | 1.9 |
With a revamped defense and under the guidance of defensive coordinator Jason Tarver, the Silver and Black have limited their opponents to just 3.6 yards per carry this season. That number is good for fifth in the AFC.
| AFC Rank | Team | Avg. | Attempts | Rushing Yards |
| 1. | NY Jets | 3.1 | 211 | 664 |
| 2. | Denver | 3.4 | 192 | 652 |
| 3 | Cleveland | 3.6 | 248 | 884 |
| 4. | Baltimore | 3.7 | 219 | 803 |
| 5. | Oakland | 3.8 | 201 | 757 |
