The Las Vegas Raiders dropped a crucial game to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and did not look good in the process.
The Raiders’ defense got BULLIED
From the first drive, it was clear the defense was going to be helpless against a very average Colts offense. Even though they held ‘Indy’ to a field goal, Jonathan Taylor ran right through the Raiders defense. This Las Vegas team put up zero fight against the run, getting gashed for over 200 yards.
When Colts quarterback Philip Rivers did drop back to pass, he had all day to throw since there was no pressure whatsoever. The Raiders played a very safe and passive defense all game. They got absolutely bludgeoned in the process. The defensive coaching staff failed to make any adjustments at all. There is no justifying keeping Paul Guenther at this point.
Note: As of writing this, Paul Guenther has been fired.
Related: How Did Raiders’ Receiving Game Fare In Week 14 vs Colts?
That was a coaching loss
In this game, we saw unnecessary and costly penalties and a lack of fundamentals such as catching and tackling. Don’t forget all the security issues and the people out of position. These mental errors are happening far too often. At this point in the year, playoff teams are not making loads of mistakes.
Look no further than Week 14. Indy came in with a clear game plan, and it was well executed. The ‘Horseshoe’ looked well prepared and had solid fundamentals while the Raiders looked like a total mess. It is easy to see why the Colts are vying for a home game in the wild-card round, and the Silver and Black’s playoff hopes are slipping away.
The offense actually looked alright
Yes, there were a few turnovers. Also, some drops. Maybe a penalty or two. However, they did manage 27 points against one of the top defenses in the league. That is an impressive feat, regardless of the result. Especially when you consider that they left some points on the table. While things were certainly not perfect from an offensive perspective, they showed a lot of talent. If there was one bright spot in this nightmarish game, at least the offense went toe-to-toe with an elite defense.
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Top Photo: Thomas J. Russo/USA Today Sports
