Colts’ offense rolls; Raiders fire coordinator
INDIANAPOLIS 44, LAS VEGAS 27
LAS VEGAS — T. Y. Hilton caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers, Jonathan Taylor rushed for a career- best 150 yards and two scores and the Indianapolis Colts solidified their spot in the AFC playoff race with a 44- 27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
Rivers passed for 244 yards and Taylor had a key 62- yard touchdown run for the Colts, who racked up 456 total yards while scoring on seven of their f irst eight drives. Safety Khari Willis clinched the win with a 53- yard interception return for his f irst career touchdown with 5: 22 to play.
Indianapolis stayed securely in one of the conference’s wild- card spots and remained atop the AFC South alongside Tennessee after the Colts’ turned in their highest- scoring performance in three seasons under coach Frank Reich.
Following the game, Las Vegas announced the f iring of defensive coordinator Paul Guenther after he failed to make any significant improvement for the unit in nearly three full seasons on the job. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will take over on an interim basis for the rest of the season.
The Raiders allowed 212 yards rushing Sunday, had no sacks, no takeaways and forced only one punt in a game that was all too reminiscent of so many since Guenther arrived with coach Jon Gruden in 2018.
“No answer today, but we better f ind some answers and as soon as I’m done here, we’ll start searching,” Gruden said after the game but before the decision was announced.
Guenther was Gruden’s most important hire when he returned to the Raiders in 2018, but he was never able to rebuild a defense that was gutted when star pass rusher Khalil Mack was traded to Chicago before the season opener that year.
In nearly three full seasons with Guenther running the defense, the Raiders ranked last in points allowed per game ( 28.4), last in sacks ( 60), 31st in yards per play allowed ( 6.04), 30th in takeaways ( 47) and 29th in passer rating against ( 29th).
Rivers, the longtime Chargers quarterback, made his 29th career start against the Raiders and beat them for the 19th time, both the most by any opponent in Raiders history. The Colts are now closing in on their second playoff berth in three years, and their first with the 39- year- old veteran at the controls.
“You hope you’re playing your best ball here in the fourth quarter [ of the season], and that’s what we’re going to have to do to give ourselves a chance in the playoffs here,” Rivers said. “We’re built to be efficient and dink- and- dunk it and grind out the four- yard runs, but there’s no question what big plays do for you. It’s huge.”
Derek Carr passed for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Raiders, who have lost three of four after a strong start to their relocation season. Foster Moreau and Nelson Agholor made touchdown catches in the first half, but the offense couldn’t keep up while Indianapolis marched up and down the f ield to little resistance.
“When you need a win against a team you’re battling with for a playoff spot and you don’t get it, it really rips your heart out,” Carr said.