It's time for Raiders to feed the Beast(Mode)

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ALAMEDA – Marshawn Lynch had 18 carries in his Raiders debut. The physical running back closed out the season opener at Tennessee with tough runs and a GIF-worthy trucking of Jurrell Casey.

That was not, however, a sign of things to come. His Tennessee total remains a season high. Lynch went through a lull early in the year, struggling to work well within the system.

Something, however, has changed. Lynch has been awesome lately, with 20 carries for 116 yards and two touchdowns in his last six quarters. He was particularly efficient against New England averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and seemed primed for a big day had the score remained close.

Head coach Jack Del Rio doesn’t consider this surge coincidental.

Lynch upset some defending Oakland native and Kansas City Chief Marcus Peters in Week 7, an action that got him ejected and suspended one game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

He missed an embarrassing loss in Buffalo – the Raiders desperately need him then – and returned to action with a fire in his belly.

“I just like the way he came back from that whole suspension. I think he’s come back with real zest, a real exuberance to run the ball and to be on point with things,” Del Rio said. “I like the way he’s approached it. I think he’s getting a better feel for what we want to do with him, and we’re getting a better feel for what we can do with him. I think since he’s come back he’s been really good.”

That’s why it’s time to feed BeastMode. The Raiders have been working to establish a steady running game. The blocking has improved. Lynch has been running strong. And the Raiders are up against him. There’s no saving him for later. The playoffs start now.

They’ve got to go, and Lynch can lead them. Lynch’s carries have hovered in the low teens, preventing him from wearing down defenses like he did so often in Seattle.

Lynch's worst day came in the Raiders' first clash against Denver. He had just 12 yards on nine carries, as the Broncos loaded the box and forced Derek Carr to sling it into a stingy secondary.

Doesn’t matter. The Raiders should challenge the NFL’s No. 4-ranked run defense, and feature Lynch early at often. That’s what Del Rio wants to do. He has always valued tough running, and wants that to be an offensive feature down the stretch. Lynch’s carry count could increase.

“It could be a little (higher). I’d like to push him and get him a little more,” Del Rio said. “Obviously, that’s a matter of us doing things that I spoke to earlier in the week with getting the possessions offensively, converting on third down, which allows more possession, more snaps and opportunities. That’s a big part of it.”

The Raiders have to keep things close, or get a rare early lead and hold it. Lynch has been running strong, and is ready to be a truly featured back.

“He’s really been reenergized and refocused,” offensive coordinator Todd Downing said. “He’s running the ball well. I think he had something like 11 carries in the first half or something like that. We were trying to get him rocking and rolling. I’m pleased with where he’s at. Hoping to be able to feed him a little bit more.”

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