Game Preview: Silver and Black ringing in the new year against the Indianapolis Colts
The Las Vegas Raiders gear up for their final road game of the regular season this weekend against the Indianapolis Colts (8-7).
Both teams will be looking to keep playoff hopes alive when they meet on New Year’s Eve in Indianapolis. After losing 29-10 to the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, the Colts are currently at the No. 7 seed in playoffs. They’re tied at an 8-7 record for the AFC South lead with the Jaguars and Texans, however, Jaguars hold the tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the Silver and Black are fighting their way through a packed AFC crowd to potentially earn a playoff berth, needing to win their last two games before other factors come into play
Things could swing in the Raiders’ favor Sunday based on history. The Silver and Black are 6-2 in road games against the Colts all-time, including wins in each of the last two (Jan. 2, 2022 and Sept. 29, 2019). It’s the Raiders’ second-best road record against any team and is tied for the best road record by any NFL team against the Colts (tied with Chargers and Panthers).
The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series against the Colts 10-9. The two teams last met on Nov. 13, 2022, where the Colts took home a 25-20 win over the Silver and Black.
Following Week 16, the Raiders rank 29th in the league in total offense (279.5 yards per game), 23rd in passing (190.9 ypg), 31st in rushing (88.6 ypg) and 25th in points (19.0 ppg). Defensively, the Raiders rank 16th in total defense (332.7 ypg), 11th in passing (210.5 ypg), 22nd in rushing (122.2 ypg) and eighth in points allowed (19.6 ppg).
The Colts offense ranks 15th in the league in total offense (334.4 yards per game), 19th in passing (221.2 ypg), 13th in rushing (113.2 ypg) and ninth in points (23.6 ppg). Defensively, the Colts rank 22nd in total defense (351.4 ypg), 14th in passing (220.7 ypg), 28th in rushing (130.7 ypg) and 28th in points allowed (24.8 ppg).
To tie Derrick Burgess (16) for the most sacks in a single season in franchise history, DE Maxx Crosby needs three sacks.
RB To pass Pete Banaszak and go into second place in franchise history in terms of career rushing touchdowns, Josh Jacobs needs two more.
In order to pass Mark van Eeghen and take second place in the franchise’s career rushing yardage record, Jacobs needs 362 rushing yards.
To become the only running back in Raiders history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in four of his first five NFL seasons, Jacobs needs to gain 195 yards on the ground. Additionally, he would become one of just 31 backs to ever accomplish the feat in NFL history.
