The Oakland Raiders welcomed the Indianapolis Colts to the Oakland Coliseum on Sunday, and played well through three quarters, but fell to 1-6.
Maybe the Oakland Raiders should consider playing football during the fourth quarter of NFL games. The Raiders had the lead once again at the half, and at the end of the third quarter, but the Indianapolis Colts scored 21 unanswered to come away with the victory.
It was a tale of two quarters in the first half, as the Colts dominated control of the ball in the first quarter, leading the Raiders 10-0 through the first frame. Andrew Luck hit Mo Alie-Cox to get the Colts on the board first, as Alie-Cox made a tremendous one-handed catch over the outstretched hand of Gareon Conley.
After forcing a three-and out, the Colts drove down and kicked a field goal, which tied Adam Vinateri with Morton Anderson for first all-time in scoring in NFL history. From there, the Raiders dominated the rest of the half, scoring two touchdowns, as Derek Carr finally looked comfortable under center.
The play that turned it around in the first half came on third down, as Carr was lit up on a throw to Jared Cook, which was completed for a first down. That got the momentum moving in the Raiders direction, as Carr hit Seth Roberts for a 31 yard score to get the Raiders on the board.
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Carr would connect with Cook again for his second touchdown pass of the first half, a solid 25-yard strike across the middle, as the Raiders took a 14-10 lead. The Colts threatened to take the lead late in the first half, but the Raiders defense really stepped up.
The Raiders were able to get a huge stop on third down, forcing the Colts to kick the field goal, as the teams went into the locker room with the Silver and Black up 14-13. With the field goal, Vinateri became the NFL’s all-time leading scorer.
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In the second half, the Raiders got the ball first, and put together one of their better drives of the 2018 NFL season. The drive was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Carr, his first of his NFL career, as Jon Gruden successfully challenged the call that he was short. Daniel Carlson‘s third extra point gave the Raiders an eight-point lead.
The Colts answered right back, as Luck hit another tight end for the score, this time it was Eric Ebron who pushed Karl Joseph aside for the score. The two-point conversion was good, as Luck found Charles Rogers, and the score was tied at 21 a piece with 7:39 left in the third.
Carr made sure the Raiders stayed in the game, as he led the Raiders on a drive of his own when the team got back the ball. The fifth-year starter ended the drive in style, stepping up in pressure, and hitting Brandon LaFell for the score. It was Carr’s third passing touchdown of the game, and LaFell’s first as a Raider.
Indianapolis moved the ball well after the Raiders touchdown, as Luck and company were able to capitalize on third down time and time again. The Colts drive was capped off on a third down touchdown run by Marlon Mack, who burned the Raiders defense all game long. With under 11 minutes left in the fourth, the score was tied at 28.
After the Colts scored to take a 35-28 lead, the Raiders got the ball back, and their first turnover would prove to be the dagger. Doug Martin was stripped of the ball, and the Colts took over with 5:16 remaining, and would proceed to put more points on the board. Marlon Mack’s second touchdown of the game put the Colts up 14, ending any chance for the Raiders to come back.