The Indianapolis Colts are traveling to Las Vegas this weekend to take on the Raiders in a must-win game for both franchises.
The Indianapolis Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders are two teams vying for a playoff spot and with the playoff races starting to heat up as the season closes, both teams are in must-win mode every Sunday. In the last two weeks, the Raiders were absolutely demolished by an Atlanta Falcons team without Julio Jones and a Calvin Ridley who wasn’t at full strength, while turning the ball over five times.
Last week, the New York Jets nearly walked off the field with their first win of the season if it wasn’t for a great blitz pick up and Henry Ruggs III hauling in a miracle throw from Derek Carr.
In Week 14, the Silver and Black need to go back to looking like the team that started out 6-3, beating high-level opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints. The Colts are 8-4 this season and tied with the Titans for first place in the AFC South, so a win on Sunday is a must if they want to keep pace in the AFC as well.
They’re also coming off a win against the Houston Texans that went down to the game’s last drive, and while the Colts have their weaknesses, so do the Raiders.
Sitting as the No. 8 seed in the AFC directly behind the Colts, the Raiders need to close out the final quarter of the season in a better fashion than they did a year ago. They can start a nice run at home against the Colts, but they will need to play much better than we have seen in recent weeks.
Here are three things to watch against the Colts this weekend.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch in Week 14
Colts defensive front against Raiders offensive line
The Colts defense has been one of the best in the league this year, particularly in the rushing category. The addition of DeForest Bucker in the offseason made this front-seven one of the best in the NFL, and it continues to impress from week to week.
Two weeks ago against the Tennessee Titans, the Colts were smacked in the mouth by Derrick Henry with nearly 200 yards of offense. This past week, however, they held a Texans team to less than 100 yards, as the return of Buckner and Denico Autry paid huge dividends.
One fact about Buckner is he’s the second-highest receiver of double teams from opposing offensive lines only behind Aaron Donald. Last week on double teams, he had five pressures and a sack with two hits, cementing his dominance against opposing guards and centers. The Colts have 31 sacks as a unit, with Justin Houston having wight, Autry having seven, and Buckner with six.
The Colts are also good at getting the linebackers and secondary involved in the pass rush. Darius Leonard, who I’m convinced is the most underrated player in the NFL right now, has a sack this season, as does safety Khari Willis and cornerback Kenny Moore.
Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus is a genius and knows the perfect time to dial-up pass rushes. The most famous is the delayed blitz from the linebacker position with either Anthony Walker or Leonard, and if Bobby Okereke plays, he’s a force too. The entire defensive unit for the Colts is top tier, and they play lights out together.
Luckily for the Raiders, they will likely get Trent Brown this week, so their offensive line is almost back to 100 percent, making this matchup an intriguing one on Sunday.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch in Week 14
Colts secondary against the Raiders receivers
The Colts secondary is not to be messed with, plain and simple. Kenny Moore is having a career season this year, as well as young superstar Julian Blackmon. Blackmon is making a case for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and it’s not even a close conversation.
The rookie safety has five game-winning plays in the last five minutes of the 4th quarter or overtime, including the forced fumble to win the Green Bay Packers game three weeks ago. Blackmon also has one of the best opposing quarterback ratings with a 39.4 when targeted.
The other safety is Khari Willis, who’s in his second year. Willis is having quite the season as well. posting a 50% reception average with 62 yards on the season. This week, Willis and Blackmon will be taking on Darren Waller, who had a career-day catching 200 yards against the Jets, along with two touchdowns.
The Raiders receiver group matches well with the Colts secondary as they’re both young and hungry for wins. However, one weakness is cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. Ya-Sin has struggled all season with pass interference and being too aggressive.
He’s had seven penalties on him for over 300 yards total, including three on third down leading to the opposing teams’ first downs. The Raiders should find where he is on the field and try their hardest to get Ruggs on him for a deep pass interference call.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things to watch in Week 14
Colts offensive line against Raiders pass rush
The Colts vaunted offensive line from last season has been depleted in recent weeks. Anthony Castonzo was out last week and for most of the game against the Tennessee Titans. The Colts have allowed the most pressures, hits, and sacks they have in the past three seasons over a three-game stretch in those games.
Then, during the Texans game, backup tackle Le’Raven Clark tore his Achilles tendon, and Chaz Green took over at left tackle. Green played 64 snaps at left tackle and allowed five pressures, allowing two sacks. However, to be fair, he faced J.J Watt nearly all day.
While Green is below average, Braden Smith is one of the best tackles in the NFL right now. No matter who is matched up against him, Smith is an absolute mauler, and usually wins his matchups. The Raiders must throw the kitchen sink at him this weekend.
Quenton Nelson is the best guard in the league, and it’s not even close, as the former Notre Dame player has been elite his entire career for the Colts. How good is he? Nelson went his entire rookie year and half his second without allowing a sack, a span of over 1,200 snaps.
Las Vegas has struggled to get a consistent pass rush, and while the Colts offensive line is a bit banged up, they do have some elite players there. Last week, Clelin Ferrell really stepped up for the Silver and Black, notching two strip-sacks, so if he can get going, the young tandem of him and Maxx Crosby should be able to get some pressure on Rivers in Week 14.