Hilton, Taylor lead Colts' 44-27 rout of fading Raiders — T.Y. Hilton caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers, Jonathan Taylor rushed for a career-best 150 yards and two scores, and the. The Oakland Raiders take on the Indianapolis Colts during Week 4 of the 2019 NFL season.Subscribe to NFL: out our other channels:NFL.
LAS VEGAS -- — Frank Reich found himself regularly amazed while he watched everything his Indianapolis Colts accomplished in their first trip to Sin City.
The coach couldn't believe Kenny Moore's one-handed, diving end-zone interception. He also marveled at the breakaway speed of Jonathan Taylor, who outran the Raiders' entire secondary on a 62-yard TD sprint.
At the final whistle on a 44-27 victory Sunday, Reich was still extremely impressed with his team and its potential.
'I believed that we can be that good, but obviously this was a big day,' Reich said.
Indianapolis racked up 456 total yards, including a whopping 212 on the ground, in its highest-scoring performance in its three seasons under Reich, and its biggest since 2014 overall. Their offensive superlatives prompted the Raiders to fire defensive coordinator Paul Guenther less than three hours after the final whistle.
While the Colts (9-4) haven't clinched their second playoff berth in Reich's three seasons, they appear to be in elite form as they head down the postseason stretch.
'It's hard to put up those numbers in this league, but we did it today, and we have the personnel to do that,' Reich said. 'We have the personnel to be dominant in the run game and we have the personnel to be dominant in the pass game.'
T.Y. Hilton caught two touchdown passes from Philip Rivers, while Taylor rushed for a career-best 150 yards and two scores. Rivers passed for 244 yards as the Colts scored on seven of their first eight drives in their fourth victory in five games.
'You hope you're playing your best ball here in the fourth quarter (of the season), and that's what we're going to have to do to give ourselves a chance in the playoffs here,' Rivers said. 'We're built to be efficient and dink-and-dunk it and grind out the 4-yard runs, but there's no question what big plays do for you. It's huge.'
Safety Khari Willis clinched the win with a 53-yard interception return for his first career touchdown with 5:22 to play. Indianapolis stayed securely in one of the conference's wild-card spots and remained atop the AFC South alongside Tennessee, which has a better divisional record for now.
Derek Carr passed for 316 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Raiders (7-6), who have lost three of four after a strong start to their relocation season.
Foster Moreau and Nelson Agholor made TD catches in the first half, but the offense couldn't keep up while Indianapolis marched up and down the field to little resistance. Coach Jon Gruden addressed the defense's woes by firing Guenther, who had been Gruden's defensive coordinator since he took over the franchise in Oakland in 2018, even though the Raiders have another game Thursday.
'When you need a win against a team you're battling with for a playoff spot and you don't get it, it really rips your heart out,' Carr said.
Rivers, the longtime Chargers quarterback, made his 29th career start against the Raiders and beat them for the 19th time, both the most by any opponent in Raiders history.
Rivers isn't the only quarterback picking apart this Raiders defense down the stretch, however: Las Vegas has given up 150 points in its last four games, with the embattled Guenther's unit yielding an average of 399 yards per game in that stretch.
Only a last-second comeback against the winless Jets has prevented Las Vegas from going 0-4 since its 6-3 start to the season.
'We were in a situation where we had to score a touchdown every time we had the ball, it seemed,' Gruden said. 'You get to the point where you second-guess everything you're doing offensively every time you punt. It's tough right now, but you have to stay confident that your players are going to put it together.'
Both offenses started superbly at new Allegiant Stadium, where the Raiders are 2-4. Arbitrage sports betting forum.
Raiders Vs Colts Tickets
Moreau eluded two defenders on a 47-yard catch-and-run TD shortly before Agholor's 21-yard TD reception put the Raiders up 14-10 early in the second quarter.
Hilton's 41-yard TD catch put Indianapolis back in front moments later. A touchdown-saving tackle by Vegas' Trayvon Mullen with 1 second left in the first half limited the Colts' halftime lead to 20-14.
Taylor surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season in the third quarter on his long touchdown run.
'Getting a bit of fresh air was definitely fulfilling,' Taylor said with a laugh.
Willis scored the Colts' fourth defensive touchdown of the season with his interception return.
BIG CATCH
Moore blew both teams' minds with his interception in the second quarter. The fifth-year defensive back said he was 'just doing what I was supposed to do,' but everybody else marveled at his hands and body control.
'I didn't know if Odell Beckham Jr. was playing defense for us there,' Reich said. 'I had to stop for a second there and kind of think, ‘Did he actually catch that ball?' It was really just one of those once-in-a-lifetime chances, a really great play.'
INJURED
Colts: CB Xavier Rhodes went to the locker room in the second quarter with a knee injury. .. LB Darius Leonard left in the second half with a back injury. .. LT Anthony Castonzo missed last week with a knee ligament injury, and he was on and off the field early before getting comfortable.
Raiders: DE Clelin Ferrell was ruled out after halftime with a shoulder injury.
UP NEXT
Colts: host the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Raiders: host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.
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Indianapolis Colts (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS)
When: Sunday, December 13, 4:05 p.m.
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Moreau eluded two defenders on a 47-yard catch-and-run TD shortly before Agholor's 21-yard TD reception put the Raiders up 14-10 early in the second quarter.
Hilton's 41-yard TD catch put Indianapolis back in front moments later. A touchdown-saving tackle by Vegas' Trayvon Mullen with 1 second left in the first half limited the Colts' halftime lead to 20-14.
Taylor surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie season in the third quarter on his long touchdown run.
'Getting a bit of fresh air was definitely fulfilling,' Taylor said with a laugh.
Willis scored the Colts' fourth defensive touchdown of the season with his interception return.
BIG CATCH
Moore blew both teams' minds with his interception in the second quarter. The fifth-year defensive back said he was 'just doing what I was supposed to do,' but everybody else marveled at his hands and body control.
'I didn't know if Odell Beckham Jr. was playing defense for us there,' Reich said. 'I had to stop for a second there and kind of think, ‘Did he actually catch that ball?' It was really just one of those once-in-a-lifetime chances, a really great play.'
INJURED
Colts: CB Xavier Rhodes went to the locker room in the second quarter with a knee injury. .. LB Darius Leonard left in the second half with a back injury. .. LT Anthony Castonzo missed last week with a knee ligament injury, and he was on and off the field early before getting comfortable.
Raiders: DE Clelin Ferrell was ruled out after halftime with a shoulder injury.
UP NEXT
Colts: host the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Raiders: host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.
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Indianapolis Colts (8-4 SU, 7-5 ATS) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (7-5 SU, 7-5 ATS)
When: Sunday, December 13, 4:05 p.m.
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
TV: CBS 18 and up casinos in oklahoma.
Point Spread: IND -3/LV +3 (Best Teaser Odds)
Total: O/U 51.5
Outlook
It's backs-to-the-wall time for Las Vegas, which needs to find a win here if it's going to have any hope at all of making the postseason. At 7-5, the Raiders are still in control of their own fate, but a loss here would essentially finish them off. Not only would a loss here put them two games behind the Colts (plus the tiebreaker), but with only three games left, they'd have to run the table and get some help.
For the Colts, a little help could put them in the postseason. Only Vegas and Baltimore are within a game of the Colts for the final playoff spot in the AFC, and if the Ravens fall to the Browns, Indianapolis would hold a two-game lead with games against Houston and Jacksonville left on the slate. However, consistency has really plagued the Colts, who have managed to knock off Green Bay at home but got drilled at home by Tennessee. Then again, Vegas has shown the widest range of outcomes in the NFL this season, as the Raiders handed Kansas City its only loss of the season but needed a last-second touchdown to avoid becoming the Jets' only victim of the season.
How the Public is Betting the Indianapolis/Las Vegas Game
1977 Raiders Colts
The public appears to be siding with the Colts on this one, as 58 percent of tickets have come in on Indianapolis. In turn, that's pushed the line up from -2.5 to -3 for the Colts, while the total has dropped from 52 to 51.5.
Injury Concerns
Indianapolis:
Guard LeRaven Clark is out for the season with an Achilles injury. Linebacker Bobby Okereke (ankle), safety Khari Willis (back), tackle Anthony Castonzo (knee), cornerback Isiah Rodgers (concussion), and cornerback Xavier Rhodes (undisclosed) are questionable. Tight end Noah Togiai (knee) is out indefinitely.
Las Vegas:
Cornerback Damon Arnette (concussion), running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), cornerback Isaiah Johnson (groin), and safety Jonathan Abram (knee) are questionable. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (hamstring) is out indefinitely, and linebacker Tanner Muse (toe) is on injured reserve.
When Indianapolis Has the Ball
Offense hasn't been the problem for Indianapolis. The Colts are moving the ball quite well through the air and are averaging nearly 30 points a game over the past three weeks, based almost entirely on their ability to score. The Colts' big problem is that they've got to keep scoring because they've been getting no help whatsoever from their defense.
Actually, they've got two big problems because their other issue is that they really can't run the ball all that well but are still committed to trying. Indianapolis is one of four teams averaging a league-worst 3.7 yards per carry, and the Colts have 340 carries on the season, more than any of the other three teams with such a low average. Jonathan Taylor did come to life in the win over the Texans, averaging seven yards per carry, but for the most part, Rivers and T.Y. Hilton have been on their own.
That's not the worst thing in the world against the Raiders, who give up 257 yards per game through the air, worse than any AFC playoff contender except the Titans — the same team Rivers torched for an average of 302 yards per game in two meetings with this season.
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When Las Vegas Has the Ball
Something isn't right with the Raiders right now, as they've looked terrible over the past two weeks. Getting blown out by the Falcons is bad enough, but needing a last-second play to escape the Jets suggests that there's something seriously wrong.
Colts At Raiders 2020
For Las Vegas, it starts with not holding on to the football, as the Raiders have seven turnovers in just their past two games. Vegas actually had firm control in the Jets game, but a fumble led to a New York touchdown, and a turnover on downs nearly cost the Raiders the contest, as the Jets had a chance to run out the clock but managed to botch it.
Getting Josh Jacobs back would really make a difference for the Vegas attack. Jacobs hasn't done a great job as the primary running back in terms of yards per carry, but he's made up for it by his ability to handle a sheer volume of carries. Vegas is at its best when it's able to use its pass attack to set up scores and its ground game to eat clock. Over the past two weeks, they haven't effectively accomplished either goal, which has led to the past two nightmarish games. Such is life when you're one of only two teams with both a winning record and a negative point differential, an oddity the Raiders share with the Browns.
Colts Vs Raiders History Record
However, Cleveland has the excuse of managing to pair defensive meltdowns in the games where the offense couldn't get going, leading to two of its three losses being blowouts. The Raiders can't say the same, as they've held just two opponents all year under 26 points.
Colts Vs Raiders History Game
Betting Trends
Going on the road has actually been a great thing for Indianapolis in 2020, as the Colts have covered in their past four trips outside of Lucas Oil Stadium. That fits quite well with this series's history, as the road team has covered in four of the past five meetings between these teams. However, the Raiders have actually done pretty well against fellow AFC teams. They've failed to cover in each of their past two contests (one was against the NFC Falcons), but outside of that, Vegas had covered five straight against AFC foes.
As for the total, Vegas as a home dog has been a reliable recipe for a lot of points. The over has hit in six of the Raiders' past seven home games, and the seventh game was a push. That fits well with the Colts, as the total has gone over in six of the past eight Colts games.
Weather Report
Allegiant Stadium is domed so that the weather won't be a factor.
Dan's Pick to Cover the Spread
Colts Vs Raiders 2007
The Colts' defense worries me, but the Raiders are a mess right now. Plus, I really don't want to go against the Colts on the road. For whatever reason, Indianapolis plays its best football outside of Indianapolis, as evidenced by the fact that the Colts crushed Tennessee in Nashville and got drilled by 19 against that same Titans team two weeks later at home.
For the year, Indianapolis is 4-2 SU away from home, and I think they can cover here against a Raiders team that seems to be running out of gas. Give me the Colts and the over. Editor's Note: These teams have proven to be helter skelter this season. The best way to bet this game is likely to take in a quarter or so before deciding which team to back. For those note aware, there's a sportsbook out there that reigns far superior to the rest when it comes to live in-game wagering: Bovada Sportsbook. They give you a 50% bonus and rebates on ALL your bets, whether they win or lose. Fast hassle-free payouts too. Check'em out!
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