The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Oakland QB Carr breaks fibula

- By Hosh Dubow

OAKLAND, CALIF. — Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with broken right leg, putting a serious damper on the Oakland Raiders’ 33-25 win over the Indianapol­is Colts on Saturday.

Carr’s injury leaves a dark cloud over the best season for the Raiders (12-3) in 14 years.

Oakland clinched its first playoff berth since 2002 last week and can win the AFC West and earn a first-round bye by winning next week in Denver or if Kansas City loses one of its final two games.

But that is all secondary to Carr’s health. The third-year quarterbac­k has led a resurgence in Oakland with 28 TD passes and seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

Now the Raiders have to prepare for life with Matt McGloin at quarterbac­k.

Carr got hurt with Oakland leading 33-14 early in the fourth quarter when he was sacked by Trent Cole. Carr stayed on the ground for several minutes in pain as trainers came out to treat him.

With the crowd chanting “M-VP! M-V-P!” Carr limped off the field without putting any pressure on his right leg. He was then taken away on a cart.

Coach Jack Del Rio later confirmed the extent of the injury.

Carr’s injury made it a down day all the way around. Andrew Luck threw two intercepti­ons, Frank Gore lost a fumble and Indianapol­is (7-8) allowed TDs on five straight drives to be eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Raiders turned two intercepti­ons by Luck into two touchdowns in the first half, the first by Nate Allen and the second by Reggie Nelson. Carr made the Colts pay for those mistakes.

Luck rallied the Colts from 26 points down to just eight with 2:33 left, but McGloin completed a 19-yard pass to Amari Cooper on third-and-8 on the next drive and the Raiders ran out the clock.

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