La ofensiva de los Raiders por fin detuvo su racha de siete cuartos sin anotar un touchdown, pero no fue suficiente al caer por marcador final de 23 a 20 ante los Potros y con ello entrarán a su último partido de la campaña 2023 matemáticamente fuera de la contienda por un lugar en la postemporada.
"Los muchachos están decepcionados, ¿porqué no lo estarían?", dijo el entrenador en jefe interino Antonio Pierce tras la derrota de los Malosos. "Queremos ganar todos los partidos. Tuve una gran oportunidad justo al final del partido. Tenemos un juego restante en casa que nos entusiasma. Entraremos como si hubiéramos ganado este partido. Saldremos de esto en 24 horas, nos prepararemos para un oponente divisional en casa contra los Broncos. Es otra oportunidad para que mejoremos. La temporada no termina hasta que termina. Llegar a los playoffs, eso está muy bien, pero tenemos otro partido que jugar y como locales, estaremos listos para hacerlo".
Las Vegas se encontraba abajo en el marcador 7-0 tan solo tres minutos después de haber arrancado el juego con seis acarreos de Jonathan Taylor en los que recorrieron 25 yardas, pero la jugada más importante de la serie fue una recepción de 50 yardas del novato Josh Downs que recorrió a Indianápolis de la yarda 30 de su campo a la 20 de los visitantes.
El ataque de los Raiders respondió quitándole más de 6 minutos al reloj con 12 jugadas en las que avanzaron 54 yardas hasta profundo en el territorio enemigo, lamentablemente tuvieron que conformarse con un gol de campo de 40 yardas por conducto de Daniel Carlson para anotar los únicos puntos negro y plata de la primera mitad, yéndose al descanso de medio tiempo abajo 14 a 3 tras una recepción anotadora de 58 yardas de Alec Pierce. Tras solo permitir 34 pases de al menos 20 yardas en los primeros 15 partidos de la temporada, esas dos recepciones fueron apenas la quinta y sexta vez durante la actual campaña en las que la defensa de los Malosos permite pases de 50 o más yardas.
El conjunto negro y plata despejó el balon en sus otras cuatro series de la segunda mitad, incluyendo el hacerlo en territorio enemigo en las últimas tres ocasiones. Aidan O'Connell y la ofensiva de Las Vegas por fin encontró la zona de anotación por primera vez en un lapso de 124 minutos con 11 segundos al arrancar la segunda mitad moviendo el balón efectivamente, metiéndose a la zona roja por primera vez en el partido, donde Davante Adams completó una recepción de cuatro yardas en tercera y gol para acortar distancias a 14-10.
La defensa de Las Vegas hizo un buen papel al no permitir otro touchdown en este partido y limitando a los Potros a tres goles de campo en el resto del juego, pero en los momentos claves los castigos le acabaron pegando duro a los Raiders. Con Indianápolis al frente 20-13 en la yarda 38 de su campo y con 3:39 restantes en la regulación, Jack Jones cometió una interferencia de pase con la que los Potros no solo consiguieron un nuevo set de downs, sino que los metió a territorio enemigo y a la postre poniéndose en posición de gol de campo, donde Matt Gay erró una patada de 50 yardas. Pero de nueva cuenta un pañuelo fue lanzado en contra de Jones, en esta ocasión por offsides y esto le permitió a los Potros el tener una segunda oportunidad de conseguir una ventaja de dos posesiones y no desaprovecharon. En total los Malosos fueron penalizados 7 veces para 54 yardas, mayor cantidad para el equipo desde que Pierce tomó el mando de manera interina.
"Es muy difícil cuando los Raiders juegan contra los Raiders", declaró Pierce. "Hemos estado bastante bien en cuanto a estar concentrados antes del lanzamiento. Eso no sucedió hoy en ambos lados del balón. Una vez más, eso te cuesta en un juego como este, donde todo se reduce a tres puntos. Tenemos oportunidades en tercera y cuarta y una para mantener vivas las series".
A pesar de que los Raiders tuvieron un último suspiro, metiéndose a las diagonales de nueva cuenta por conducto de Davante Adams, que terminó el juego 13 recepciones para 126 yardas y dos anotaciones en 21 pases lanzados a él. No basto, debido a que sin tiempos fueras y menos de un minuto restante en el último cuarto, tuvieron que recurrir a un onside kick que no pudo ser el primero exitoso para el equipo en los últimos siete años y acabó poniendo el último clavo al ataúd en la temporada de los Raiders al perder 23-20 y terminar siendo eliminados de la contienda para un lugar en los playoffs.
"Esa ha sido la historia para nosotros este año", aseveró Adams. "Se trata más bien de vencernos a nosotros mismos y de no poder convertir situaciones en las que deberíamos, o de tener esos castigos y obviamente eso hace que sea mucho más difícil ganar el juego. Definitivamente es frustrante".
Los Raiders ahora buscarán cerrar la temporada con un triunfo en el Estadio Allegiant ante los Broncos de Denver, con el que en caso de obtenerlo terminarían la campaña con marca ganadora frente a la división (4-2) y el arribar a 8 triunfos empataría la segunda mayor cantidad de victorias para el equipo en los últimos siete años.
View photos from the Raiders' Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) and defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Greg Van Roten (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) goes to kick and 40-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Brandon Facyson (31) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper (81) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (90) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brandon Bolden (34) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Greg Van Roten (70) and center Andre James (68) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce on the sidelines during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) on the bench during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (72) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper (81) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brandon Bolden (34) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates after making a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (90) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) and linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) and linebacker Luke Masterson (59) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Greg Van Roten (70) and kicker Daniel Carlson (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson (97) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a 1-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) makes a 1-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
