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Josh Jacobs names biggest difference between Packers and Raiders
Josh Jacobs. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Jacobs names biggest difference between Packers and Raiders

During a recent conversation with Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital, running back Josh Jacobs opened up about his decision to leave the Las Vegas Raiders and sign with the Green Bay Packers in free agency.

"I would say one of the main reasons was just the certainty of what I’m gonna get," Jacobs explained. "There’s already a lot of structure, there’s already a lot of stuff in place. Having another new head coach over there [in Las Vegas], my fourth head coach while I was there, I never felt like there was any stability. Just to be able to come into a place where you’re not trying to pick up the pieces, and you’re not trying to build it out and see what works for us. I think that’s the biggest difference."

While Antonio Pierce is holding a quarterback competition in his first offseason as the Raiders' full-time head coach, Matt LaFleur has served as the Packers coach since January 2019 and has Jordan Love cemented as his QB1. Of course, it also didn't hurt that Jacobs received a four-year, $48M deal with $12.5M guaranteed to leave Las Vegas for Green Bay.

Jacobs noted how the Packers nearly defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs this past January. The 49ers scored a go-ahead touchdown with 1:07 remaining in that contest and held on for a 24-21 victory.

"I actually watched that game about five times, and I’m not even exaggerating," Jacobs said about Green Bay's narrow defeat at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium. "I was telling them when I came in, the game of football really comes down to like three-to-five plays and however those three-to-five plays go, it really determines the game. Being able to see them go deep in the playoffs, it makes my mind wonder when I’m coming in like, 'OK, I can be the missing piece,' or, 'What can I add or bring to help overcome that hurdle?'"

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Packers fifth among the betting favorites at +800 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX. Green Bay hopes Jacobs will help the club get past the likes of the 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in January 2025. 

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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