Looking to snap their two-game losing streak, the Oakland Raiders came out like a team on a mission on the road Sunday afternoon against the Indianapolis Colts. They carried that momentum and were able to hang on for a 31-24 victory to move to 2-2 on the season.
The Raiders once again got off to a hot start, something that’s becoming a bit of a trend on the season as they started the game with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Derek Carr looked like a franchise quarterback, going 6-for-6 for 53 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau, the rookie tight end out of LSU.
Oakland’s defense proceeded to immediately force a punt on Jacoby Brissett and the Colts offense via a three-and-out and on the first play of the following Raiders drive, Trevor Davis ran in into the endzone for an incredible 60-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 Raiders early.
After another three-and-out by the Raiders defense, Carr fumbled the ball quickly into the next drive, setting up the Colts near the red zone at the 22-yard line. Brissett wound up hitting Jack Doyle for a five-yard touchdown to cut the Raiders lead to 14-7.
The second quarter saw the Raiders picking up right where they left off as a 19-yard pass from Carr to Tyrell Williams led to a touchdown and extended the Raiders lead to 21-7. The Colts managed to cut the lead to 21-10 after a long drive littered with penalties, including the disqualification of Vontaze Burfict, led the Colts to a 26-yard Adam Vinatieri field goal.
After a Raiders punt, the Colts managed to put together a solid drive before fumbling in the red zone, giving the Raiders the ball on their own 15-yard line. Unfortunately, the Raiders couldn’t capitalize offensively and were forced to punt again.
The Colts began the second half with more of the same from the first, punting the ball after a short drive. After the punt, the Raiders with a lengthy 15-play, nine-minute drive that could only bring them three points, but extended the lead to 24-10 going into the fourth and final quarter.
Things got interesting in the fourth as the Colts put together a solid touchdown drive to move within seven points of the Raiders at 24-17 with just over five minutes to play.
Oakland was able to get one first down but punted back to the Colts with 2:28 remaining for one final drive. Erik Harris came up with the play of the game, intercepting Brissett and returning it for a touchdown to make it a two-score game.
The Colts added a late touchdown on a busted play, but Jacobs closed out the game to earn the victory for the Raiders.
