Las Vegas Raiders at Cleveland Browns: 3 Surprises in Week 15

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 20: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders stiff arms Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 20: Josh Jacobs #28 of the Las Vegas Raiders stiff arms Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #28 of the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 20: Interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 20: Interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Raiders went into Cleveland and got a much-needed win against the Browns, so here are the three big surprises from the victory.

A huge win over the Cleveland Browns keeps the Las Vegas Raiders playoff hopes alive, but what made this game so unpredictable was that 18 Cleveland players, including eight starters, were out due to COVID-19 protocol and regulations.

Las Vegas was also without two of their biggest playmakers, Denzel Perryman and Darren Waller, who are key players on both sides of the ball. We have not seen Waller since the Thanksgiving Day victory over Dallas, but the hope is, that he can return for a crucial three-game stretch to cap off the regular season.

Incredibly, despite everything that has gone on with this Raiders franchise, they are No. 10 in the AFC Playoff picture, and really control their own destiny. The Cleveland win was huge, as it would have technically eliminated the Raiders from any legitimate playoff contention.

This game was a roller coaster ride, and because of this, the game was filled with surprises. Here are three of the biggest ones.

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