Raiders and Colts meet in a game that might have…

LAST WEEK: Raiders beat Chiefs 20-14, Colts lost to Falcons 29-10.

RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (29), RUSH (31), PASS (23), SCORING (25).

RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (16), RUSH (22), PASS (11), SCORING (8).

COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (15), RUSH (13), PASS (19), SCORING (9).

COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (28), PASS (14), SCORING (28).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Raiders minus-3; Colts plus-3.

RAIDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: Aidan O’Connell, quarterback. The rookie last appeared in Indianapolis a year ago, when he led Purdue to the Big Ten title game. Now he’s back, seeking to put the Raiders in contention for the playoffs. He struggled last week, completing only nine passes for 62 yards, all of which came in the first quarter. Yes, he won, but he must be much more focused this week.

COLTS PLAYER TO WATCH: Jonathan Taylor is a running back. The 2021 NFL rushing champion struggled last week after missing the previous three games due to right thumb surgery. This could be an opportunity to get back on track. He’s played the Raiders the last three years and has above the 100-yard mark each time, totaling 62 carries for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

KEY MATCHUP: The Raiders’ pass defense will face Gardner Minshew. In a season in which so much went wrong for Las Vegas, the team’s pass defense has been strong. The Raiders might mimic Atlanta’s strategy by crowding the line of scrimmage and daring Indy’s receivers to beat them deep, especially if Michael Pittman Jr. isn’t available. Minshew, on the other hand, must solve the issue of pushing the ball downfield.

KEY INJURIES: RB Las Vegas Tight end Michael Mayer (toe) and Josh Jacobs (quadriceps) did not practice on Wednesday. Jacobs has been out for the last two games, and Mayer did not play in Kansas City. DE Maxx Crosby (knee), DE Malcolm Koonce (ribs), LT Kolton Miller (shoulder), C Andre James (ankle), and T Jermaine Eluemunor (knee) were all limited. Crosby has been on the injury report frequently, but he has yet to miss a game. Miller has been out with a persistent ailment for the past six games. …Pittman returned to the concussion protocol last weekend after experiencing new symptoms. Beginning with S Julian Blackmon was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury on Tuesday, and RT Braden Smith (knee) has missed the last three games.

SERIES NOTES: Since 2018, the road team has won five straight games in this series. In 2016, the Oakland Raiders were the most recent home team to win. These teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the winner receiving the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship. In January 1971, the Baltimore Colts won the AFC championship game. In December 1977, the Oakland Raiders won a thrilling overtime playoff game on the road. This is the second year in a row that one of these teams has had an interim coach. Last season, Indy delivered Jeff Saturday his first — and only — victory in Las Vegas. This weekend, Antonio Pierce hopes to duplicate his winning celebration.

STATS AND STUFF: Las Vegas won its first two games after firing Josh McDaniels and its last two under Pierce to overcome a 3-5 start and reclaim a playoff spot. The Raiders have scored 83 points in wins against the Chargers and Chiefs after being shut out by Minnesota. In Pierce’s first five games as interim coach, Las Vegas scored 76 points. O’Connell is 4-4 as a starter, with eight touchdown throws. Five of his seven picks came on the road. … RB Zamir White had 193 yards rushing in two NFL seasons into last week’s game before gaining 145 in a win over the Chiefs.

RB Josh Jacobs needs 195 yards to achieve 1,000 yards, but has missed the last two games with a quad injury. WR Davante Adams needs 15 catches and 28 yards to have his fifth 100-catch, 1,000-yard season – his first with the Raiders. DE Maxx Crosby has already recorded a career-high 13 1/2 sacks this season.Against Kansas City, Las Vegas scored two defensive touchdowns in a 7-second stretch. Indy has dropped two of its last three games overall, but has won two straight at home after being 1-4 at Lucas Oil Stadium this season.

The Colts finish the season with two home games in a row. Shane Steichen is attempting to become the fifth non-interim coach in Indy’s history to guide the team to the playoffs in his debut season.

Minshew is 6-5 as Indy’s starter this season and needs one more victory to reach a new single-season career high in wins. Taylor, Zack Moss, and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson have combined for 14 of Indy’s 17 touchdown runs this season. Minshew possesses the remaining three. … Pittman has 99 receptions this season, which is more than the next two Colts receivers combined. Josh Downs has 63 points, while Alec Pierce has 31. …LB Zaire Franklin needs six tackles to break his single-season franchise record of 166 established last season. The Colts set a single-season franchise record with 47 sacks. Sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Indy had no takeaways last week, snapping the league’s longest current stretch of forcing a turnover (19).

FANTASY TIP: Given his past against Las Vegas, Taylor appears to be the clear pick this week. The Raiders have also struggled to stop the run, averaging more than 122 yards per game this season and are only 167 yards away from allowing 2,000 yards rushing.