OAKLAND–First Quarter Recap
The Raiders won the toss and chose to defer.
It would be a three-and-out for the Colts to start after Andrew Luck overthrew Donte Moncrief on third down.
After an initial first down by the Raiders, Antonio Morrison's tackle for loss led to an Oakland punt.
The Colts dialed up some trickery on their next drive, but it didn't work. A fake field goal from 48 yards out was stuffed. Pat McAfee's direct snap run on 4th-and-5 was stopped early. The score stayed tied at the 8:27 mark of the first quarter.
It was a nice start for the Indianapolis' secondary. Derek Carr started the game 1-of-7 for 11 yards. Oakland's second drive ended with a punt.
The string of punts to start ceased on the next drive. With pressure up the gut off a play-action, Luck's pass to T.Y. Hilton took too long to arrive. Oakland's Nate Allen stepped in front of the attempt for the interception.
The first quarter ended with the Raiders driving inside the Indy five-yard line.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied at zero.Second Quarter Recap
It was a 12-play drive for the Raiders that resulted in a touchdown off the Luck pick. Andre Holmes' one-yard TD catch from Derek Carr gave the Raiders an early 7-0 lead in the second quarter.
Following the Raiders touchdown, the Colts found more success on the ground. That set up a beautifully executed fake bubble screen to Jacoby Brissett, with Donte Moncrief wide open for a 24-yard touchdown from Andrew Luck. The score was tied at 7 with 9:49 to go in the first half.
The scoring was not stopping anytime soon. Derek Carr's five yard-touchdown toss to Clive Walford gave Oakland the lead back at 13-7 with 5:50 left in the second. The Raiders relied on the legs of rookie Jalen Richard (4 carries for 45 yards) for much of the drive.
The top turnover differential team in the NFL added to its cushion. Andrew Luck's jump ball in the end zone for T.Y. Hilton was picked off by Raiders safety Reggie Nelson.
For the second time on Saturday, the Raiders turned a Luck interception into a touchdown. Going 80 yards in six plays, the Raiders found the end zone on Derek Carr's four-yard touchdown to running back Jalen Richard. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski did miss his second extra point of the game.
At halftime, the Raiders led the Colts 19-7
Third Quarter Recap
A dominant second quarter carried into the start of the third for the Raiders. One of the NFL's most balanced offenses showed why in an 80 yard, six-play touchdown drive. DeAndre Washington's 22-yard touchdown extended the Oakland lead to 26-7 with 10:43 left in the third quarter.
A turnover-filled day for the Colts didn't stop in the second half. Frank Gore's fumble led to another touchdown for the Raiders.
It was Washington again from 22 yards out, marking the third time in three chances the Raiders had turned an Indy turnover into a touchdown. The score was now 33-7 with 8:40 to go in the third quarter.
The bleeding was stopped briefly by the Colts. Andrew Luck led an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. A deep pass to T.Y. Hilton set up a three-yard touchdown reception by Robert Turbin. The score was now 33-14 with 5:18 left in the third.
Another Raiders' drive in Colts' territory brought the third quarter to a close.
At the end of the third quarter, the Raiders led the Colts 33-14.Fourth Quarter Recap
Several Oakland penalties, including an intentional grounding on third down, took them out of scoring drive. The punt ended five straight touchdown drives by the Raiders.
Backed up in the shadow of their own goal line, the Colts went three and out.
The first sack of the game for the Colts came on Oakland's next drive. The sack sent Raiders quarterback Derek Carr out of the game.
Trying to make things interesting, the Colts put together a 6-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. Andrew Luck's 11-yard score, and ensuing two-point conversion to T. Y. Hilton, cut the lead to 33-22 with 7:40 remaining.
After a stop against the Raiders and backup quarterback Matt McGloin, the Colts kept it entertaining in Oakland. Adam Vinatieri's 42-yard field goal trimmed the margin to 33-25 with 2:33 left.
Needing one more stop, the Colts looked to get it until Amari Cooper made a terrific catch on a 3rd-and-8 at the two-minute warning. The Raiders ran out of the rest of the clock, winning 33-25.
With Saturday's loss, the Colts (7-8) were officially eliminated from the playoffs. They will conclude the 2016 season next Sunday in a home finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13).
Colts In-Game Injuries
CB-Darius Butler (concussion, OUT)
WR-Donte Moncrief (shoulder, OUT)
Colts Inactives
S-Duke Williams
CB-Charles James II
LB-Chris Carter (shoulder)
C-Austin Blythe
DT-Kristjan Sokoli
OT-Jeremy Vujnovich
WR-Devin Street
Colts Pre-Game Notes
- If the Colts are going to make the playoffs, three things must happen: the Colts win out (@Oakland, vs. Jacksonville), the Texans lose out (Cincinnati, @Tennessee) and the Titans lose to the Jaguars this weekend.
- This road trip is the furthest the Colts have had in the United States this season (London was the longest trip of the season).
- Saturday's Christmas Eve contest is the first the Colts have played since 2006.
- The Colts are 1-2 against the AFC West this year (Beat San Diego, lost @Denver and to Kansas City).
- After Sunday, the Colts will have their regular season finale next Sunday afternoon at home versus the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)
Weather Update
-It's a far cry from last week in Minneapolis. The Colts are outdoors this week with temperatures expected to be in the low 50s and sunny skies on Saturday afternoon.
The Colts have teamed up with Uber and ICJI to help fans ride responsibly on game day! Download the Uber app and enter code COLTS2016 for a free first ride up to $15. Make the right call - get home safe with Uber!
