It’s safe to say that so far, rookie running back Ashton Jeanty hasn’t been as productive as he - or the Las Vegas Raiders, or the rest of the NFL - expected.

After an incredible Heisman-caliber season at Boise State that carried the Broncos to the College Football Playoff, Jeanty has yet to match those expectations at the professional level.

With just one 100-yard rushing performance through his first nine games, he now looks to bust that threshold Monday night against a struggling Dallas Cowboys defense ... and potentially deliver the breakout game of his rookie campaign.

Both the Raiders and Cowboys have stumbled recently, with Las Vegas sitting at 2–7 and Dallas at 3–5–1, making tonight’s matchup feel like a true toss-up. What gives Jeanty a legitimate chance to shine, however, are the Cowboys’ defensive woes.

Dallas currently owns the second-worst defense in the NFL, ahead of only the Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite their struggles, the Cowboys attempted to fortify their defense at the trade deadline. They sent two premium draft picks (and Mazi Smith) to the Jets in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. They also acquired veteran linebacker Logan Wilson from Cincinnati for a seventh-round pick.

While those moves may help stabilize the unit, it remains to be seen whether they’ve improved enough to slow down Jeanty on Monday night.

In four of their last five games, multiple running backs have posted standout performances against the Cowboys’ defense - several of whom are arguably less talented than Jeanty.

In their most recent matchup, Arizona’s Emari Demercado totaled 79 yards on just 14 carries, a number Jeanty should reasonably be able to surpass.

The week before, Denver’s J.K. Dobbins gashed the Cowboys for 111 yards on 15 carries.

Prior to that, Carolina’s Rico Dowdle exploded for 183 yards.

And before that, the Jets’ Breece Hall piled up 113.

With that track record in mind, Jeanty appears primed for a major opportunity ... and potentially a headline-grabbing performance on Monday night.

The one factor that could derail Jeanty’s long-awaited breakout, and arguably the biggest reason he hasn’t played at a Rookie of the Year level, is his offensive line. According to PFF, the Raiders currently rank 31st among all offensive line units ... better only than the Cleveland Browns.

This week, Jeanty made headlines when he offered his analysis o Dallas defense.

“They just added Quinnen Williams in the interior, so I’m sure that’ll level up their front,'' the Frisco, Texas native said. "And they’re just a good all-around team. But there are definitely places where we can attack them and make great plays.”

A quote like that all but guarantees the Cowboys’ defense will be highly motivated to make a retaliatory statement of its own. ... Not to mention, this will be their first game since the tragic passing of teammate Marshawn Kneeland, an emotional factor that could elevate their play.

So now the question becomes: Who gives in first: The NFL’s 31st-ranked defense, or its 31st-ranked offensive line?

If it’s the former? Jeanty’s long-awaited breakout performance may finally be on the horizon.