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Las Vegas Raiders run defense is absent in 44-27 loss to Indianapolis Colts

By Pete Hernandez III

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs #28 runs against Indianapolis Colts strong safety Khari Willis #37 for a first down during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 13: Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs #28 runs against Indianapolis Colts strong safety Khari Willis #37 for a first down during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Raiders struggled mightily on Sunday against the Colts. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Raiders struggled mightily on Sunday against the Colts. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The Indianapolis Colts traveled to Allegiant Stadium and ran rampant against the Las Vegas Raiders in a 44-27 win with AFC Wild Card implications.

It was a familiar face in a new uniform as the Las Vegas Raiders matched up against Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts. In the ever-competitive race for an AFC Wild Card spot, both the Raiders (7-5) and Colts (8-4) faced off in a game with playoff implications. After emerging victorious against Indianapolis a season ago, the Raiders aimed to achieve the same success once again on Sunday.

After being at the expense of the run game last week against the New York Jets, the start to the first quarter became a similar story for the Raiders. Jonathan Taylor had his way with the Raiders defense on the ground early on, and his impact allowed the Colts to take advantage through the air. Philip Rivers found his number one receiver T.Y. Hilton for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Colts up 10-0 early.

Las Vegas responded the only way they knew how: through the air. After failing to get the chains moving at the start, Derek Carr threw a bomb to Foster Moreau, who took it to the house for a 47-yard touchdown. On the next Las Vegas possession, Carr led the offense downfield into Indianapolis territory and rewarded Nelson Agholor with a 21-yard touchdown pass, who went untouched in the endzone.

The Raiders’ lead was short-lived, as the defense proved incapable of stopping the duo of Philip Rivers and T.Y. Hilton. After catching the Colts’ first touchdown of the afternoon, Hilton hauled in his second of the day with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Rivers, giving Indianapolis a 17-14 lead. Derek Carr was primed to strike back once again, but an incredible one-handed interception by Kenny Moore II in the endzone gave the Colts possession once again, capped off by a field goal to increase their lead 20-16 by the half.

After a roughly five minute drive for the Raiders to start the second half amounted to just a field goal, it took only two minutes for Indianapolis to answer. Jonathan Taylor, who had his way on the ground in the first quarter, torched Las Vegas’ defense for a 62-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Colts a 27-17 lead.

Towards the latter stretch of the game, it was a matter of field goals versus touchdowns. No matter how well the Raiders could march down the field, all Las Vegas could muster was three points at the end of the drive. Meanwhile, Indianapolis continued to run rampant as Jonathan Taylor (20 carries, 150 yards) scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, building the Colts’ lead to 14 points.

For good measure, the Colts defense picked off a Carr pass that slipped through Jalen Richard‘s hands, taking it back to the endzone to seal a commanding victory for Indianapolis and a nightmare loss for Las Vegas.

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