3 Takeaways from Raiders' Week 10 Loss vs. Colts
The Las Vegas Raiders made the playoffs last season and were expected to contend in a competitive AFC West in 2022. Instead, they're going to spend the next eight weeks trying to dig themselves out of a big hole at the bottom of the division.
Sunday brought another disappointing showing for the Raiders, who fell 25-20 to the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium. Las Vegas has lost three straight games to fall to 2-7. The only team in the NFL with a worse record is the Houston Texans (1-7-1).
With 11 minutes and 36 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, the Raiders took a 20-19 lead on Derek Carr's 48-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams. However, Las Vegas couldn't hold on, as Indianapolis moved ahead for good on Matt Ryan's 35-yard TD strike to Parris Campbell with 5:07 remaining.
Here are three takeaways from the Raiders' Week 10 loss.
This Was a New Low in a Disappointing Season Thus Far
The Raiders were shut out in a 24-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. They blew a 17-point lead in a 27-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9. And yet, Las Vegas' Week 10 showing was an even lower point than either of those previous defeats.
That's because the Colts have been in disarray for much of the season. They fired head coach Frank Reich after starting 3-5-1. They replaced him with Jeff Saturday, who had never previously coached at the college or NFL levels. And their roster is filled with players who have greatly underperformed.
Yet, Sunday's head-coaching debut resulted in a Raiders loss. His Indianapolis team outperformed a Las Vegas squad that can't seem to figure things out in its first year under head coach Josh McDaniels.
"We have to have everyone on the same wavelength," Adams said, per Levi Edwards of the team's official site. "Guys have to go out there and put everything into it throughout the week. Sunday is supposed to be fun, and it's the least fun day of the week right now. That's a problem. We've got to fix that."
In order to do that, the Raiders will need to play better in all areas of the game. Because right now, their struggles are widespread.
It Took Much Too Long for the Offense to Get Going
Over the game's first 29:02, the Raiders scored no points. Their first four drives resulted in three punts and a turnover on downs, as Indianapolis jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Las Vegas didn't get on the board until Carr's 4-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau 58 seconds before halftime.
With Adams, running back Josh Jacobs and a host of other playmakers on offense, the Raiders shouldn't be taking that long to score points. The Colts did a much better job of setting the tone for the game and building early momentum.
Las Vegas' offense also couldn't deliver late. It scored no points between its final two possessions, and its final drive ended with Carr throwing an incomplete pass intended for Adams on a 4th-and-17 at the Indianapolis 16-yard line with 47 seconds to go.
It resulted in yet another close loss for the Raiders. Six of their seven defeats have been by seven or fewer points. On Sunday, if they had converted a few key plays on offense, the result could have easily swung the other way. But that's not the type of year it's been for Las Vegas.
The Defense Can't Play Like This Against Struggling Offenses
On the other side, the Raiders' defense couldn't find ways to slow the Colts' Matt Ryan-led offense. It was expected all week that Sam Ehlinger would remain Indianapolis' starting quarterback, but the team made a late decision to go back to the veteran Ryan, who began the year under center.
The Colts racked up 415 total yards with a balanced attack (208 passing and 207 rushing). Jonathan Taylor had no trouble carving up Las Vegas' defense, as he ran for 147 yards and a touchdown behind an Indianapolis offensive line that had been struggling all season.
The Raiders are allowing 376.1 total yards per game, the fifth most in the NFL. So this wasn't an outlier for Las Vegas' defense, which hasn't fared great against many of the teams it has faced.
There's also been a lack of big plays from the unit, as the Raiders had one sack against Ryan and forced only one turnover. If they can start making momentum-shifting plays on defense, it could potentially help the team, as a whole, turn things around. But they'll need to find ways to make that happen.