The Las Vegas Raiders playoff hopes are still alive. The Raiders, currently 8-7, are tied with 3 other teams for the last wild card spot headed into week 17. If Las Vegas can manage to win out, they will find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. It all starts with a game against the Colts and their prolific rushing attack. Here is how the Raiders can pick up a key win and put themselves in the driver’s seat headed down the stretch.
Can Carr Get Back on Track?
The Raiders fate has been tied to Derek Carr’s performance all season, for better or for worse. Unfortunately, Carr has been less than stellar in the back half of the season. Over the last 8 games, Carr has accounted for passing 8 touchdowns and a staggering 12 turnovers, including 6 interceptions and 6 fumbles. Luckily for the Raiders, their defense has managed to step up and save the day a few times over that stretch. But if the Raiders hope to win the last two games and possibly make a deep playoff run, Carr has to figure things out fast.
The Raider passing attack is at its best when it challenges defenses down the field. While Carr will be missing star tight end Darren Waller for yet another week, the Raider quarterback will need to push the ball downfield against a stout Colts defense. Look for receivers Hunter Renfrow and Desean Jackson to see their fair share of targets throughout the day. If Carr and the Las Vegas offense can use their passing attack to set up the run, it could be a big day all around for the Raiders.
Stop Jonathan Taylor… At All Costs
Indianapolis has made their offensive game plan crystal clear. They will run Jonathan Taylor all day until the defense can prove they can stop it. Taylor will be the number priority for the Raider defense all day. While facing the leagues leading rusher is a daunting task, Las Vegas does have some hope. The Raiders put together one of the best defensive performances the league has seen against the run this year. Last week, they managed to hold Denver to just 18 team rushing yards in the entire game. While the Broncos rushing attack is a far cry from Taylor and the Colts, the dominate performance does inspire some confidence heading into the pivotal AFC matchup.
It will largely be up to linebacker Denzel Perryman to lock down Jonathan Taylor. Perryman, who is 6th in the league in tackles with 138, has been the heart and soul of the Raiders front 7 all year. While he is currently on the Covid list, the Raiders are hopeful he will clear protocol by game time Sunday. While Perryman and the linebacking crew will be focused on the run, cornerback Casey Hayward will be focused on locking down wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. However, Hayward is also on the Covid list at the time of this article, so there are a concerning amount of question marks on the defensive side of the ball for Las Vegas.
Prediction
While Las Vegas has managed to keep themselves in playoff contention this late in the year, this may be the beginning of the end. The Colts offer a more consistent offensive attack, and with the lack of production the Raider offense has been experiencing in recent weeks, it may be too much for the defense. Taylor will most likely have another big game, and it will be up to Derek Carr and the offense to at least keep pace to keep the Raiders playoff hopes alive.
Final Score: Colts 31 – Raiders 20
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