Las Vegas Raiders vs Indianapolis Colts: 3 things we learned
Las Vegas Raiders vs Indianapolis Colts: 3 things we learned
Why can’t the Raiders find playmakers on defense?
The Indianapolis Colts were able to overcome the Raiders thanks to a few individual plays by some of their key defensive players. The game was closer than the final score indicated, and the reason it swung in favor of the Colts was due to those big plays.
Kenny Moore’s interception of Derek Carr in the end zone was one of the defensive plays of the year, and it was made by a player who was initially undrafted and developed by the Colts into an All-Pro level defender. It is the sort of play that we have not seen a Raiders defender make since the heyday of Charles Woodson and that is truly a shame.
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Moore also made the second big play of the game by forcing a fumble by Hunter Renfrow in the fourth quarter, which truly swung the game from competitive to comfortable for the Colts.
The last play that turned the game into a laugher was the pick-six by former fourth-round pick Khari Willis, who intercepted a pass after it deflected off the hands of Jalen Richard. These are all the sort of plays that good defenses make, and good defensive players make, the sort of which the Raiders have been sorely lacking in.
This year the Raiders have struggled to make game-breaking plays, and in many cases, that have proven the difference in their losses. Turnovers are the great equalizer in the NFL and they are often the reason why teams lose games and the Raiders’ minus-five turnover differential explains a lot about their struggles this year. In fact, the last time the Raiders had a positive turnover differential was 2016 where they lead the league with a plus-16 total and finished 12-4 on the year.
That 2016 team had players like Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, and Reggie Nelson who forced fumbles and picked off passes that swung games in favor of the Raiders.
The Raiders have struggled to find that level of playmaking on defense since then and it was on full display on Sunday as they needed someone to make a play and swing momentum in their favor but all of the playmakers were wearing blue and white.
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Improving on this specific aspect will have to be a priority for the Raiders this offseason and it ties directly with an improvement at defensive coordinator. Great defensive coordinators put their playmakers in the best position to make plays and the Raiders need massive improvements at both positions if they are ever to be taken seriously as a contender.