Las Vegas Raiders to face another backup quarterback in Week 17
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders continue to get lucky in terms of the opposing quarterbacks, as they will face another backup QB in Week 17.
On Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders take on the Indianapolis Colts for their playoff lives, as a loss would make it nearly impossible for them to qualify for the postseason. After starting the year out with a 5-2 record, Las Vegas lost five of six, before winning their last two games against both Cleveland and Denver.
In those two games, Las Vegas has the luxury of playing against backup quarterbacks, a third-stringer for the Browns in Nick Mullens, and a backup in Drew Lock for Denver. Both Mullens and Lock struggled to get their offenses going, and in Week 17, it appears Las Vegas will take on another backup signal-caller.
That came when the news broke that the Colts will be without Carson Wentz in Week 17, an unvaccinated player who is the starting quarterback in Indianapolis. Wentz has not played well t his season despite the Colts’ successes, but he is a big part of this offense, and the Colts being without him is a huge blow to this offense.
Raiders to face a depleted Colts team in Week 17
Not only is Wentz out, but it is possible that Indianapolis could be without their entire starting offensive line, thanks to a combination of COVID, and injuries. On the other side of the coin, Las Vegas lost six members of their defense to COVID on Monday, leveling out the playing field a bit heading into this matchup.
Luckily for the Raiders, their entire team is vaccinated, which means a negative test from now until Sunday would make those players eligible to play in the crucial AFC battle.
For Las Vegas, as long as they can get some of their defensive players back in time for the game on Sunday, they have no excuse not to win this game. Sure, Taylor is a special running back, but at this point, he is all they have going for them in Week 17, making the Raiders now the favorite to move to 9-7 after all is said and done.