Oakland Raiders: NaVorro Bowman significantly helps run defense

General manager Reggie McKenzie acquired linebacker NaVorro Bowman at a good time. How will he help the Oakland Raiders over the next two weeks?

Oakland Raiders linebacker NaVorro Bowman quickly earned respect from fans with an impressive debut in Week 7, just three days after the team signed him. Others asked what took general manager Reggie McKenzie so long to address a weak and inexperienced position on defense.

It’s never too late to do the right thing, but we’ll move forward with Bowman as part of a defense that certainly needs his downhill play style. In the previous outing against the Kansas City Chiefs, the 29-year-old linebacker logged 11 total tackles and four run stops, per Pro Football Focus Elite.

The Raiders didn’t allow Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt to reach 100 yards for the fifth time in seven games. You can attribute a large portion of the credit to Bowman’s play.

Oakland’s run defense gave up 100-plus yards on the ground between Weeks 2 and 5, which comes as a disappointment when considering the added pieces and Mario Edwards Jr.’s return to the defensive line rotation. In the last two contests, the front seven tightened up keeping teams below the century mark.

The Raiders will prepare for a two-game road trip on the east coast, which starts with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and continues with the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. In both contests, Bowman will serve as an important asset in winning matchups against running backs with a heavy workload.

Week 8 vs. LeSean McCoy

In 2016, Bills running back LeSean McCoy burned the Raiders defense for 130 yards on 17 carries. He also added seven catches for 61 yards in a loss.

Since head coach Sean McDermott took over as the Bills head coach, the team has vastly improved on the defensive end—don’t count on another 38-point performance against the league’s No. 4 scoring defense.

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In 2017, McCoy accounts for 33 percent of the team’s yards from scrimmage. He’s equally dangerous as a ball-carrier and receiver. Bowman’s appearance should minimize the former strength. Buffalo’s leading receiver, tight end Charles Clay, will miss Sunday’s game due to a knee scope from weeks ago.

Jordan Matthews, the Bills’ No. 1 wide receiver on the depth chart, lists fourth among the team’s pass-catchers with only 16 targets in five games.

Obviously, the offense will rely on McCoy to generate yards however possible with quarterback Tyrod Taylor as a threat to move the ball with his legs. The Raiders will need Bowman at his best when chasing down both playmakers.

Week 9 vs. Jay Ajayi

The Raiders will follow up with another AFC East opponent in the Dolphins, who also rely heavily on the running back to move the chains. Jay Ajayi accounts for 31 percent of the team’s yards from scrimmage through Week 7. He’s logged at least 25 touches over the past three outings.

Quarterback Jay Cutler will miss Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens with cracked ribs, but he expects to play against the Raiders, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

At less than 100 percent with a known injury, head coach Adam Gase will likely protect his quarterback, which means more carries for Ajayi. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. should anticipate the 24-year-old tailback to taking 25 handoffs and seeing five-to-seven targets as a receiver in the flat.

This season, the Dolphins have struggled to score points, but the Raiders defense also allowed 30 on the scoreboard to the Baltimore Ravens, who rack in the bottom half of the league in scoring, in Week 5.

Next: NFL 2017: 5 Teams on upset alert in Week 8

Oakland has an opportunity to reach the bye week at 5-4 on a three-game win streak.

Despite the offensive struggles for the next two opponents, the defense can’t take it lightly. McCoy and Ajayi will carry the majority load for both clubs. Nonetheless, if Bowman replicates his debut performance in silver and black, the run defense should be prepared to limit both dynamic running backs on the ground.