Raiders vs. Colts Official Game Thread
Henderson, Nev. --The Las Vegas Raiders are a team that should be in the NFL post-season and today they face a major hurdle in getting there: the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts are 8-4) and would love to go two-games up over the Raiders (7-5) in a crucial AFC Wild Card fight. The Raiders with a win would tie the Colts record and hold a vital tie-breaker with the victory.
Remember the rule of five. If the Las Vegas Raider wins that, games are over. For those who don't remember it, it has to do with sacks and turnovers. If the Raiders have three sacks and give up two, that means they are plus one. If they then get four turnovers and give up only one, that means they are plus three. That would give them a plus-four for the day. They want to get to a plus-five ratio every game. Teams that reach the rule of five scenarios win 91% of their ball games on average.
It is vital for the Raiders to get the win, that they come into the game in attack mode on offense. The Raiders' defense has not shown the ability to win a big game with consistency. That is why points are at a premium when that defense is facing Philip Rivers and a lethal attack.
Throughout the game, we will constantly be updating what is going on here in this article. We encourage you to constantly refresh.
Inactives for the Raiders and Colts today:
COIN TOSS: Raiders win the toss. Defer to the second half. Colts will receive the kickoff.
PENALTY UPDATE: Pass interference called on Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski. First-down Colts.
PENALTY UPDATE: False start called on Colts tackle Chaz Green. Five-yard penalty. Remains third and goal
SCORING UPDATE #1: Placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship boots a 25-yard field goal through the uprights. Colts take early 3-0 lead. 8:52 left to go in the first quarter.
INJURY UPDATE: Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell is on the sideline, being looked at a left arm injury
INJURY UPDATE: Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo is questionable to return with a knee injury. Quenton Nelson moves to left tackle.
PENALTY UPDATE: Unnecessary roughness called on safety Johnathan Abram. Half of the distance to the goal. First and goal.
INJURY UPDATE: Raiders Lamarcus Joyner is shaken up on the play. He jogs off the field on his own power.
SCORING UPDATE #2: Colts Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton with the seven-yard touchdown. PAT is Good. Colts extend their lead to 10 with 2:59 left to go in the first quarter.
SCORING UPDATE #3: Wide receiver Foster Moreau receives a 47-yard touchdown pass. PAT is Good. Colts still lead 10-7.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Colts lead 10-7 after one quarter. First-and-10 at Las Vegas 45-yard line after the break.
PENALTY UPDATE: Neutral zone infraction called on Colts Justin Houston. Five-yard penalty. Remains first down.
SCORING UPDATE #4: A 21-yard pass straight through the middle of the field to wide receiver Nelson Agholor puts six more on the board. PAT is Good. Raiders take the lead, 14-10. 10:38 left to go in the half.
SCORING UPDATE #5: 41-yard deep shot to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton results in a touchdown for the Colts. PAT is Good. Colts retake the lead 17-14. 9:03 left to go in the half.
TIMEOUT #1: Raiders take their first timeout of the half. Colts lead 17-14. 8:25 left to go in the half.
PENALTY UPDATE: Colts cornerback Kenny Moore commits a horse-collar. A 15-yard penalty from the end of the play. First down Raiders.
TURNOVER: Deep shot to tight end Darren Waller is intercepted by Colts cornerback Kenny More in the endzone. Colts get the ball on their own 20-yard line. Colts lead 17-14 with 3:30 left to go.
PENALTY UPDATE: Holding called on Raiders Trayvon Mullen. Five-yard penalty, automatic first down.
PENALTY UPDATE: Encroachment on Raiders Johnathan Hankins. Five-yard penalty. First down Colts
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: Colts lead 17-14. Ball on Indianapolis 34-yard line.
PENALTY UPDATE: False start called on the Colts. Five-yard penalty. Third-down Colts.
TIMEOUT: Colts take the second timeout of the half. 18 seconds left to go in the first half. 17-14 Colts lead.
TIMEOUT: Colts take the final timeout of the half. One second left in the half. Ball placed on Raiders one-yard line. Colts lead 17-14.
SCORING UPDATE #6: Colts placekicker Blankenship boots a 20-yard field goal through the uprights. Indianapolis leads 20-14 at the half.
END OF HALF: Colts lead 20-14 at the half. Raiders receive the ball in the second half.
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HALFTIME REPORT:
It’s been a back and forth offensive affair in Las Vegas.
The Colts got the ball rolling with the ground game.
It was the rookie running back Jonathan Taylor who quickly got the ground game rolling for the Colts, rushing for 42 yards in six carries.
In a little over six minutes, the Raiders defense was walked all over until Indianapolis knocked on the red zone.
There, the Raiders stopped the Colts and made them settle for a 25-yard field goal.
On the offensive side, it was a quick three-and-out for the Raiders offense after a short one-yard rush by running back Josh Jacobs and two incomplete passes.
The Colts responded back with yet another long possession, scoring a touchdown after a seven-yard throw to the end zone to wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.
It’s Hilton’s third-straight game with a touchdown.
It’s clear the Raiders defense struggled to tackle and stop the Colts on man-to-man coverage.
The one positive from this specific possession was the continuation of consistent defensive play by linebacker Nicholas Morrow, further solidifying the argument that he should start and take over for linebacker Cory Littleton.
Apparently, the first drive was a wake-up drive for the Silver and Black as a quick 2:50 possession, capped by a 47-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Foster Moreau, put Las Vegas on the board after a slow start.
On the following possession, solid coverage by Trayvon Mullen down the field and miscommunication by the Colts offense forced Indianapolis to punt the football, opening an opportunity for the Raiders to tie or take their first lead of the contest.
The Raiders take full advantage of the Colts punt and take the lead themselves, after an offensive possession that created a lot of momentum.
A couple of short runs by both running backs Josh Jacobs and Devontae Booker with a couple of long shots to wide receiver Nelson Agholor down the seam gave the Raiders a 14-10 lead with 10:38 left to go in the first half.
Just as the Raiders took the lead, it only lasted for 95 seconds as Colts quarterback Philip Rivers found Hilton deep down the field for a 41-yard touchdown reception.
As the Raiders get the ball back with another drive, tight end Darren Waller got involved, moving the ball down the sideline effectively. However, the drive ended in an interception by Colts cornerback Kenny Moore with a one-handed grab.
The drive set up by the interception winded it all the way to the end of the half with the ball just shy of a touchdown. The Colts settle for a field goal with one second left in the half.
In total, the Raiders created 203 yards on offense with two touchdowns compared to the Colts 299 yards and two touchdowns.
A back-and-forth offensive affair, it’s still way too early to tell which team keeps their season alive after another 30 minutes.
Colts lead 20-14 at the half.
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START OF THIRD QUARTER:
SCORING UPDATE #7: Placekicker Daniel Carlson boots a 25-yard field goal through the uprights. Colts lead 20-17. 9:41 left to go in the third quarter.
SCORING UPDATE #8: Running back Jonathan Taylor rushes for 62 yards down the field for a touchdown. PAT is Good. Colts lead 27-17 with 7:27 left to go in the third quarter.
INJURY UPDATE: Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell is ruled OUT of today's contest, citing a shoulder injury.
INJURY UPDATE: Colts cornerback Xavier Rhodes was injured on the play.
SCORING UPDATE #9: Raiders settle for a 23-yard field goal through the uprights. Colts lead 27-20 with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Colts lead 27-20. 2nd and 11 coming up at their own 23-yard line.
INJURY UPDATE: Linebacker Nicholas Morrow is injured on the field.
PENALTY UPDATE: Neutral zone infraction called on linebacker Raekwon McMillian. Half of the distance to the goal. First-down Colts.
SCORING UPDATE #10: Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushes in for a three-yard touchdown run. PAT is Good. Colts extend their lead, 34-20.
TURNOVER: Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow fumbles the football and is forced fumbled by Colts Kenny Moore. Linebacker Darius Leonard recovers the football. Colts get the ball on Las Vegas 26-yard line.
INJURY UPDATE: Safety Johnathan Abram was shaken up on the last play.
PENALTY UPDATE: False Start called on Colts Quenton Nelson. Five-yard penalty. Remains third down.
TIMEOUT: Colts take their first timeout of the half. Remains 4th and 1. 6:55 left to go in the game. Colts lead 34-20.
SCORING UPDATE #11: 35-yard field goal attempt by Blankenship is good. Colts extend their lead, 37-20.
SCORING UPDATE #12: Pick-six is committed by safety Khari Willis. 53-yard touchdown after the interception. PAT is Good. Colts extend their lead, 44-20. 5:22 left to go in the game.
PENALTY UPDATE: Lowering the head and initiating contact with an opponent called on Colts safety Tavon Wilson. 15-yard penalty. First-down Raiders.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: Colts lead 44-20. Raiders have the ball on Indianapolis 17 yard-line. 2nd and 17 coming up.
SCORING UPDATE #13: Quarterback Derek Carr scrambles for a five-yard rushing touchdown. PAT is Good. Colts lead 44-27 with 0:55 left to go in the game.
FINAL: Colts defeat the Raiders 44-27 in Las Vegas. Raiders drop to 7-6 on the season while the Colts improve to 9-4.
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