Las Vegas Raiders will take on Cleveland on Monday due to COVID-19
By Alex Perl
The Saturday AFC clash between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns has been postponed until Monday at 2 PST.
The Las Vegas Raiders were supposed to take on the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon, as they looked to finally get some footing in their quest for a spot in the AFC Playoffs. However, on Friday, despite numerous reports that the game would go on as scheduled, it was reported the matchup would move to Monday.
The news comes on the heels of 20 Browns players and coaches being put on the COVID-19 list.
With so many positive tests, the Browns were finding it hard to field not only a competent team, but a team at all going into the matchup. The postponement will now give the Browns a possible chance to field a stronger and more complete team facing off against the Raiders.
Raiders fighting for their playoff lives vs Cleveland
The game will now be a more daunting task for the Raiders as they look to face a Cleveland team looking to have more of its best players on the field in this contest. Throughout the week, the Browns saw numerous stars go down due to positive COVID tests, including their top two quarterbacks, their starting left tackle, a star wideout, and plenty of key players on the defensive side of the ball.
Now, those players who are vaccinated can have more time to post a negative COVID test, allowing them to play on Monday inside FirstEnergy Stadium. The NFL had stated earlier in the year that those teams with an outbreak would be forced to forfeit if they could not field a team, but it seems now, the game will be moved back for the playing field to be leveled.
The Raiders (6-7) are last in the AFC West as they look to get back to their winning way and back on the.500 train. The Browns (7-6) are only a game back of the first-place Ravens in the AFC North, and will now have a better chance to gain ground on their division rivals with the postponement.