1. The good: Derek Carr coming up clutch for the Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders needed to come up big in the Dec. 26 game against the Denver Broncos, and they managed to do just that! Carr was able to keep the team going in a positive direction. Carr finished the day with 20 out of 25 completions, 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, which was enough to bring his team to a 17-13 victory over Denver. This is absolutely what the Raiders needed out of Carr during this crucial game, and it just feels so good to see him live up to his name. Maybe he will still have the starting job in Las Vegas next year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYgrVz_Dj6c
2. The Great: Las Vegas Raiders running game is back!
While Derek Carr deserves credit for the Las Vegas Raiders victory Sunday afternoon, it was the combination of Peyton Barber and Joshua Jacobs that allowed him to have such a great day. Jacobs rushed 27 times for 129 yards and an average of 4.8 yards per play. This allowed the Raiders to chew the clock, chip away yardage, and get the chains moved whenever they needed it. The strong running game also gave Carr a chance to be more methodical with his passing and utilize the weapons around him.
And then there was Peyton Barber, who rushed five times for 22 yards and one touchdown against the Broncos. That might sound minimal compared to what Jacobs endured, but getting in for a deciding touchdown is a huge deal. It’s also a promising sign of things to come if the Raiders can keep this kind of offense going. If the team could just get Kenyan Drake back and capitalize on this momentum in the offense, the Raiders might make a deep playoff run.
https://www.facebook.com/Raiders/photos/5146260082071104
3. The Glorious: The Las Vegas Raiders defense comes up big in divisional victory.
The Las Vegas Raiders' defense chocked the life out of the Denver Broncos' offense in what had to be one of their best showings all season long. Not only is that evident by the Raiders only allowing one third-down conversion the entire game, but also how the Raiders' defense held the Broncos to 158 yards the entire game. The team also didn't allow Drew Lock to get in for a touchdown, which one could argue was downright critical to the victory.
The Raiders also held the Broncos to less than 20 rushing yards the entire game and forced the Broncos to pass more than they probably wanted to. This put a lot of pressure on Lock, who was eventually sacked twice. Of course, the Broncos aren't the best opponents in the league, but theRaiders' defense deserves a lot of credit for keeping the season alive. Hopefully, they can do the same against the Colts and the Chargers in the season's final two games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Pa7yjMIWE