How the Raiders Offense Can Beat Colts Defense

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for a pivotal game for their postseason chances against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday.

After a 63-point performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Raiders' offense came back down to earth against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the offense failed to find the end zone and could only generate field goals.

Fortunately for the Raiders, the Colts come into this game after recently turning in a few poor defensive performances, as they have allowed nearly 25 points per game in their last five outings.

The Colts rank 23rd in the league in total defense and 27th in scoring defense.

This game is a chance for the Raiders to get their offense back on track. Let’s take a look at three things the Silver and Black must do offensively to beat the Colts.

Get the running backs involved in the passing game -- The Raiders have a few capable pass catchers in their backfield who they can use against the Colts.

The Raiders would especially like to get Josh Jacobs (quad) back for this game, as he is the fourth-leading receiver on the team with 37 receptions for 296 yards. Ameer Abdullah has more than 100 receiving yards on the season as well.

The Colts struggled with rookie running back Bijan Robinson in the passing game in their 29-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week, so the Raiders could use a similar strategy with their running backs to move the ball down the field.

Don’t be afraid of the deep ball -- The Raiders have plenty of pass-catchers on their roster who can beat the Colts through the air.

The Colts are 14th in the league in pass defense this season, but that should not discourage the Raiders from taking shots downfield if they are available.

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell had only 62 passing yards against the Chiefs, but in their victory over the Chargers, he was 3-for-4 for 72 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect passer rating on passes 20-plus-yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Colts lost one of their best players in their secondary, placing safety Julian Blackmon on injured reserve. The Raiders have a chance to be effective in the passing game, especially downfield.

Control the line of scrimmage & time of possession -- The Raiders rank near the bottom of the league in time of possession. They need to be able to control the clock to pull off the victory.

The Colts rank 28th in the league in run defense, so the Raiders must be smart, run the football and, most importantly, take care of the football.

The Raiders kept the ball away from the Chiefs as Zamir White sealed the game with three big runs late in the fourth quarter. They will need more of that on Sunday to defeat the Colts.

The Silver and Black continue the season on New Year's Eve versus the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis. Don't miss it on Sunday, December 31, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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