5 Colts Victory Strategies Against the Raiders

admin | December 29, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

On New Year’s Eve, the Indianapolis Colts will face a hot Las Vegas Raiders defense at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts are coming off one of their worst games of the season, a 29-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Christmas Eve.

The Las Vegas Raiders, their next opponent, have emerged as a dangerous defense after upsetting Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 at Arrowhead Stadium.

With the Colts looking to rebound and the Raiders coming off a huge win, it’s time to look at five crucial factors for an Indianapolis victory at home on New Year’s Eve.

#1.) Involve TEs in the Passing Game Again

The tight ends, Kylen Granson and youngster Will Mallory, were one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreadful Falcons game.

On a day when Michael Pittman Jr. was unable to play due to concussion symptoms, Colts QB Gardner Minshew was unable to find much help from the wide receivers outside of Josh Downs, who snagged six catches for 39 yards.

Granson (five receptions for 62 yards) and Mallory (four receptions for 47 yards) led the receiving charge.

Even if Pittman practices fully on Thursday and is on track to suit up, it will be critical to get these tight ends involved in order to move the ball. Granson and Mallory are speedy and good at separating, so expect Shane Steichen to incorporate them into the offensive game plan against the Raiders’ defense.

#2.) Contain Davante Adams

Davante Adams, the NFL’s top wide receiver, has had a down year by his standards. He’s caught 85 catches for 972 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.

The former six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro pass-catcher is also coming off of one of his worst games of his career. Even though the Raiders defeated the Chiefs 20-14, it was thanks to a devastating ground attack and stifling defense, not the passing offense. Adams would only grab one ball for four yards.

The Colts must contain Adams and keep him out of the picture. Even with the up-and-down passing of youngster Aidan O’Connell, he can break out and take over a game with his ability at any time. Adams will be the most important receiving threat for Gus Bradley’s stop troops to focus on.

#3.) Pass to Set Up the Run

Returning to the TEs and Pittman’s possible return, the Colts must pass the ball to assist Jonathan Taylor and the ground game.

Taylor would average 2.4 yards per carry against the Falcons. This was most likely due to the Colts’ inability to throw the ball, allowing the Falcons to focus on the run game and push Minshew to win on his own.

Taylor, on the other hand, has had excellent success against the Raiders throughout his career, and after a truly terrible statistical performance, this might be a matchup where he can have a terrific game if the passing offense can help compliment him. The Raiders are 11th in the league in passing yards allowed per game (210.5), but 22nd in rushing yards allowed per game (122.2).

Even if Las Vegas is inferior against the run, no NFL attack can be confident if it is one-dimensional, and the Raiders will seek to eliminate the ground game. Expect the Colts to boost their ground game by getting Minshew into a groove and opening up the rest of the scheme for four quarters with easy completions and short passes.

If Pittman is able to return, the passing attack will benefit greatly as well.

#4.) Force Aidan O’Connell to Carry the Offense

Returning to O’Connell. The Purdue rookie triumphed against the Chiefs, but not because of his performance. O’Connell would essentially throw the ball off to RB Zamir White to advance and move the chains on the day. White was unstoppable, carrying the ball 22 times for 145 yards.

O’Connell, on the other hand, was abysmal statistically, going 9-of-21 (43%) for 62 yards with no touchdowns or picks. He’s completed 163-of-265 (62%) throws for 1,675 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions in nine games. He’s also been sacked 20 times in his nine games.

Yes, the Raiders won by rushing the ball, but the Colts’ defense has seen the tape and will seek to eliminate the Raiders’ ground assault, forcing O’Connell to do the heavy work. Even if star running back Josh Jacobs is able to play (quad), the Colts’ defense’s game plan remains unchanged.

We’ll see what happens in the trenches and whether Indy can force Las Vegas to change their offensive strategy.

#5.) Protect Gardner Minshew

A straightforward but critical goal. Last week, the Colts allowed 11 QB hits on Minshew, resulting in six sacks.

Minshew isn’t the most mobile player and has suffered under pressure this season. The Colts must prioritize keeping Minshew upright and not nervous in the pocket.

With the news that starting right tackle Braden Smith had a full practice, a showdown between Smith and Raiders star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby, who has an astounding 13.5 sacks on the season, is possible.

However, it is not only Crosby who must be considered; fellow DE Malcolm Koonce ranks second on the Raiders with seven sacks on the season. He’s also coming off a three-sack performance against the Chiefs.

If Indy is to win, both left tackle Bernhard Raimann and Smith must be on their game and keep the pass rush away from Minshew so he can function in the pocket.