Las Vegas Raiders squeak by depleted Cleveland Browns in Week 15
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders looked left for dead late in the Week 15 matchup against Cleveland until Daniel Carlson won the game with under 0:03 seconds left.
It took two tries, but when Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson lined up for a 48-yard field goal to win the game against Cleveland, you knew he was going to be money. Carlson, the owner of a new, long-term deal with the team, has had ice in his veins all season long, and with the Raiders playoff hopes on the line, he proved why he is one of the best field goal kickers in the league.
This was a game that the Raiders should have dominated, and early on, it looked like they would, as they drove down the field on their first drive thanks to stellar play from Derek Carr. The eighth-year veteran was 8-for-8 on that initial drive, hitting seven different receivers, and capping it off with a beautiful touchdown strike to Bryan Edwards.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, that would be the only touchdown they would score, as a depleted Browns defense had their number, even with plenty of starters out. Still, a win is a win, and with the win, Las Vegas goes from No. 13 in the AFC to one spot out of the playoffs and will control their destiny the rest of the way.
Raiders avoid a major upset on the road, move to 7-7
It has been a terrible stretch for the Raiders since the bye week, but they were able to get the job done on the road in Week 15, notching their seventh win of the season. It was not easy and was downright embarrassing at times, but they will now go into their matchup with the Denver Broncos with a chance to continue to move up the rankings in the AFC Playoff.
For the game, Carr was efficient, trying to take multiple shots downfield, but it was mostly the underneath stuff that worked. Cleveland got a tremendous second half from Nick Chubb, but in the end, the Raiders were able to make just enough plays to pick up the win, and will likely run to get out of Cleveland.