Extra Points: Carr poised, efficient all afternoon, but Raiders fall to the Colts

Oct 28, 2018 at 04:06 PM

Kyle Martin

Former Raiders.com Contributor

Fall is in the air, and Sunday was a beautiful day for some Oakland Raiders football. It was a cool 71 degrees, and a few clouds hovering above, providing the perfect conditions for a day on the gridiron. It was the Raiders first game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in quite some time, and they returned eager to take on the Indianapolis Colts in front of the Black Hole.

This was the team's first test sans Amari Cooper, and all eyes were going to be on how the offense operated without him in the mix. Without Marshawn Lynch in the mix as well — he was placed on the Injured/Reserve list Monday — everyone on offense needed to step up to try and fill the void.

There were a handful of players that rose to the occasion, but unfortunately the Raiders were unable to hold off a late surge from the Colts. The team eventually fell 42-28, here are the Extra Points from Sunday's game.

1. The Raiders started a new kicker for the third time this season, with rookie Daniel Carlson getting the nod as the team's placekicker against the Colts.

2. Cornerback Rashaan Melvin and safety Reggie Nelson were listed as inactive prior to kickoff. Nelson has started in all 38 games he's played as a Raider.

3. On the first drive of the game, the Colts went 75 yards on 11 plays, and capped it off with an insane one-handed catch from wide receiver Mo Alie-Cox for a touchdown.

4. Three-and-out for the Raiders offense on the first drive of the game, but rookie punter Johnny Townsend launched a punt 55 yards, keeping the Colts within their own 22-yard line.

5. Raiders fourth-round pick Nick Nelson saw his first NFL action early in the first quarter at the slot position.

6. It might've been Nelson's first NFL game, but in the red zone, with the Colts knocking at the door, the rookie out of the University of Wisconsin came up with a huge pass defensed on third down.

7. Andrew Luck was on a mission in the first quarter, completing 11 of his first 12 pass attempts for 95 yards and a touchdown. Luck was particularly good against the Raiders defense on third down.

8. Wide receiver Brandon LaFell hauled in **his first reception as a Raider** for 16 yards.

9. Derek Carr found wide receiver Seth Roberts in the second quarter for **a 31-yard touchdown**, and the team's first points of the game.

10. Former first-round pick joined in the fun on defense, swatting a pass from Luck directed toward T.Y. Hilton, which forced a fourth down.

11. Doug Martin showed he still has some gas left in the tank on a shifty 13-yard scamper.

12. Through the first two quarters of play Derek Carr was wheeling and dealing in the pocket, completing 8-of-11 passes for 117 yards, and two touchdowns.

13. With 26 seconds left in the first half, the Colts sent out veteran kicker Adam Vinateri who knocked a 25-yard field goal through the uprights, and became the all-time leading scorer in NFL history with 2,547 points.

14. Third downs were hurting the Raiders greatly in the first half, as Andrew Luck and the Colts offense converted 5-of-8 third downs.

15. Raiders came out firing in the second half, moving the chains downfield with some chunk gains against the Colts defense.

16. On fourth down at the goal line, Head Coach Jon Gruden kept the offense on the field, and upon the snap Derek Carr jumped over the line of scrimmage and into the end zone. The play gave the Raiders a eight-point lead, and it was the first rushing touchdown of Carr's career.

17. Colts receivers made athletic plays Sunday afternoon: first Mo Alie-Cox hauled in a ridiculous one-handed touchdown that would make Odell Beckham Jr. proud, and tight end Eric Ebron extended for an impressive touchdown catch, making sure to keep both feet in bounds.

18. Wow, what a day for DC. Through the first three quarters No. 4 looked unstoppable, evading defenders, and making plays all over the field. Late in the third quarter, Carr shook off a couple of defenders in the pocket, scrambled, and **found Brandon LaFell for six**. It was his third passing touchdown of the afternoon, and his fourth total.

19. The Silver and Black had the momentum through the first three quarters, but Andrew Luck rallied the Colts and took over in the fourth quarter. Tying the game at 28, and then took the lead on a touchdown pass to tight end Jack Doyle with 5:28 left in regulation.

20. Down seven, with five minutes left, running back Doug Martin — who was spectacular all afternoon — fumbled and the Colts recovered. The turnover set Indy up just outside of the red zone.

21. Any hope of a comeback went out the window following a Marlon Mack touchdown, following the turnover. Raiders got the ball back with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter.

Through eight weeks of action the Raiders have a record of 1-6, they'll face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football.