I have to apologize.
When writing a Week 5 preview on how the Indianapolis Colts can trample the Las Vegas Raiders, I highlighted Jonathan Taylor’s penchant for running all over the Silver & Black.
I admit,
I was mistaken. The Raiders defense limited the Colts’ talented running back to just 66 yards.
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, Taylor found the end zone three times on 17 of his carries and the Colts did indeed, trample the Raiders in a 40-6 runaway victory in Indianapolis. Turns out, the Colts didn’t need Taylor to have stupendous stats as an efficient afternoon in the air and on the ground offensively, along with a stout effort on defense, combined to outclass the Raiders.
And a blocked punt in the second quarter is what opened the floodgates for Indianapolis.
The Raiders did well to start the game with an impressive 16-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 9:50 off the game clock. It was a mix of passes and runs that showcased rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, however, the Colts swarmed Raiders quarterback Geno Smith for an 11-yard sack on 2nd & goal from the three-yard line and that forced a field goal and 3-0 lead for Las Vegas.
The Colts responded with a scoring drive of their own — a 13-play, 83-yard drive — but the home team found the end zone to take a 7-3 lead, and, a series later, the game-altering big play on special teams. And it was all downhill from there for the Raiders.
Smith ended up throwing two interceptions the rest of the way killing Las Vegas drives and Indianapolis took advantage of the Raiders soft zone coverages and missed tackles on defense to score 33 unanswered points. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter where Las Vegas broke the scoreless lull: A Daniel Carlson 37-yard field goal with 11:39 left to play.
Let’s hit the quick slants as fast as this game got out of hand for Pete Carroll and his Raiders:
—Smith remains the frontrunner in an awful category: Interceptions thrown. With his pair of turnovers against the Colts, his league-leading tally sits at nine. The Raiders starting quarterback went 25 of 36 for 228 yards with zero touchdown throws while absorbing four sacks.
—In comparison, Colts starting QB Daniel Jones rarely felt any heat and was an efficient 20 of 29 for 212 yards and two touchdown throws in the victory. The shellacking was so lopsided that Colts head coach Shane Steichen inserted Anthony Richardson Sr. to close out the contest.
—Jeanty produced 67 yards on 14 carries in the loss. He also added five receptions for 42 yards (a beauty of a 29-yard grab on the Raiders’ first drive of the game). Lanes were there and Jeanty could’ve had more yards (perhaps a touchdown) if it weren’t for a timely shoestring tackle.
—Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker paced the team with four catches for 62 yards (a long of 33). He also added one rush for nine yards. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam Jr., playing in place of missing starters Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, added five grabs for 36 yards.
—Colts wideouts Ashton Dulin and Josh Downs made Raiders defenders look foolish a number of times. Dulin ended up with two catches for 55 yards while Downs had six catches for 54 yards. The two touchdown grabs the Colts had came from rookie tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.
Quotes of Note
“I was thinking that there was reason to do that, but here’s the reason why I didn’t do that — we need to stay out there and keep practicing. We need to keep practicing, we need the reps, we need the turns. We need to run the system. We need to feel it. We need to see the guys get their opportunities to improve. It’s not like a big change. I thought about it. There was a chance to do that — same thing with Maxx (Crosby), to get Maxx out of there. I’m fighting with him (because) he wants to play, but that’s normal. That’s not what’s necessary. We need to get better and get right. So, these are the games that we’re working on, and these are the games we have to learn from and grow from so that we can change the course of the way things are going. There’s nobody in there that doesn’t feel like that. And so, we’re going to go right back at it again.”
—Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll when asked if there was any consideration to turn to Kenny Pickett at quarterback
“Yeah, we didn’t do anything good. So, it’s just not good enough, we’ve got to watch the film. But yeah, it just wasn’t good.”
—Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby when asked about the defense unable to get a stop on third down against the Indianapolis Colts
Up Next
With the losing skid extending to four games, the Raiders (1-4) are back home next Sunday to host the Tennessee Titans (1-4). The Titans picked up their first win of the year in a topsy turvy rally in Arizona to edge the Cardinals 22-21. Trailing 21-6, Tennessee scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter including this wacky sequence:
Now tell me, honestly: You can see the Raiders doing something like the Cardinals did above, huh?
