Las Vegas Raiders 2020 Opponent Review: Indianapolis Colts
By Nick Ellis
Las Vegas Raiders 2020 Opponent Review: Indianapolis Colts
How can the Raiders beat the Indianapolis Colts
Last year, the Raiders were able to defeat the Colts by keeping Derek Carr clean, establishing the run game, and frustrating Jacoby Brissett. All of those tasks will be more difficult considering the two big additions the Colts made bringing in Philip Rivers and Deforest Buckner.
Even though the Colts upgraded at quarterback, the Raiders should not have too much of a challenge figuring out Rivers and the Colts passing game. Rivers will have a much better offensive line, but less impressive weapons to work with from previous years. The Colts may have to rely on their passing game against the Raiders, and when that happens, Rivers tends to struggle.
Oakland had no problems stopping the Colts rushing game last year, but that could be more difficult with the addition of Jonathan Taylor. Luckily, the Raiders made key additions at the defensive tackle spot and the linebacker position, so they should have no problems stopping the run game for the most part.
Finally, the biggest question is will the Silver and Black be able to run the football as effectively against the Colts with the addition of Deforest Buckner? Coach Gruden did a great job last year of taking teams best players out of the equation when playing them in 2019, and he will have to do it here, as well. The Raiders were able to make players like Khalil Mack and Von Miller appear useless last season.
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For Las Vegas to win this game, they will have to put the game in Philip Rivers hands, isolate Deforest Buckner so that they can run the football, and keep Derek Carr clean like they did last year. All three of these things seem extremely doable, and although it is way to early to make a real prediction, I believe the team should be able to win this game.