COLTS (7-7) VS. RAIDERS (11-3)
SATURDAY, 4:05 P.M. ET, OAKLAND COLISEUM uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 713
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson
About the Colts: Facing suddenly slim odds of reclaiming the AFC South after their Week 14 loss to the Houston Texans, the Colts decided to play their best game of the season in a 34-6 rout of the Minnesota Vikings on the road. Indianapolis built a 27-0 halftime lead before coasting to victory in the second half, keeping themselves in the race for the division title. After the Tennessee Titans and Texans pulled off narrow wins last weekend, however, the door is closing quickly. The Colts will need to win out against the Raiders and the Jacksonville Jaguars — and even that might not be enough. QB dazzled against Minnesota’s talented defense, and the Colts will need a lot more of that type of performance to win in Oakland and keep their playoff hopes alive.
About the Raiders: The Raiders have locked up their first playoff berth in 14 years, and there are two games left in the regular season. Oakland used field goals, dominating defense and an overwhelmingly loud cast of Raiders fans taking over Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego to sneak past the Chargers with a 19-16 win. QB had his seventh game-winning drive of the season to set up a 44-yard field goal by the lone Raider left who played in Oakland’s last playoff game — Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium. “That feels so special,” Janikowski said. “I’ve waited a long time for that.”
San Diego frequently double-teamed Mack and Latavius Murray, the Raiders’ leading rusher, averages 4.2 yards per carry.
managed to hold him to no sacks and half a tackle for loss, but that opened the door for LB
to come away with two sacks. Castonzo has been the rock in a rocky season for the Colts offensive line, but keeping Oakland’s pass rushers away from Luck as much as possible is critical.
The Colts had a masterful performance in spoiling Vikings RB Adrian Peter-
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
son’s comeback game, holding him to 22 yards on six carries, and they’ll need more of that to slow Murray. He had 81 rushing yards on 13 carries against the Chargers but failed to find the end zone for just the fourth time all season.
Since allowing 31 sacks through the first half of the season (32nd in the league), the Colts have allowed nine sacks in their past six games.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. The finisher: Luck has solidified his reputation for game-winning drives late in the game, but there’s a new kid on the block who is developing a reputation of his own in that arena — Carr. If this game is close heading into the fourth quarter, don’t be surprised by a photo finish or a dramatic drive.
2. Protecting the quarterback: The Colts played three rookies on their offensive line against the menacing Minnesota defense and did not allow a sack, by far their best performance of the season. Meanwhile, Oakland gave up two sacks in its win against San Diego, but pressure was scarcely a factor in rushing Carr.
3. Missteps and miscues: After leading the league in penalty yards for much of the season, the Raiders have slipped to third place with 73.5 penalty yards a game. Indianapolis hovers around the league average at 59.8 penalty yards per game. If Oakland can protect the football and win the turnover margin, those penalty yards won’t cost them during this game.
Jordan Godwin