Las Vegas Raiders at Indianapolis Colts: 3 bold predictions in Week 17
The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17, and here are three bold predictions for this crucial AFC matchup.
The Las Vegas Raiders will travel away from home for a pivotal intra-conference contest against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. After one of the most tumultuous and uncertain seasons in recent memory for any professional sports team, the Raiders are finally facing an absolute.
Win and they’re in.
Sitting at 8-7, the Raiders are currently in a four-way tie for the final Wild Card spot, with tiebreakers positioning them in tenth place at present. Since Las Vegas plays their final two games against fellow wild card candidates in the Colts and Chargers, they can control their own destiny.
The Raiders and the Colts have seemingly had seasons reciprocal of one another. The Raiders began the season 3-0 and entered their bye week with a 5-2 record. Since then, Las Vegas has lost five of eight games and they are fighting for a playoff spot, currently on the outside looking in. The Colts, on the other hand, began the season 0-3 and, after winning six of their last seven games, are set to become just the fifth team since 1990 to reach the postseason after such a disappointing start.
Now, none of that matters and both teams find themselves in a similar position of needing a win on Sunday. A Colts win would all but guarantee them a spot in the tournament and a Raiders win would set up a win-and-they’re-in scenario against the Chargers in Week 18.
Not only is this a highly consequential game for both teams’ playoff aspirations, but a huge game for individual players as well. Jonathan Taylor is attempting to become the second running back of the last decade to win the MVP award and a signature performance against the Raiders to lock in a playoff spot would certainly be a strong addition to his case.
Derek Carr is trying to play in his first career playoff game, while simultaneously convincing the Raiders’ organization that he is their guy moving forward.
With a crucial game for all involved looming on Sunday, let’s take a look at three bold predictions for week 17.