Week 16: Carr breaks fibula, Raiders beat Colts
The Indianapolis Colts' playoff hopes were completely wiped out on Saturday. They came in needing 5 things to happen these final 2 weeks, in order to win the AFC South division:
1: They needed to beat the Raiders in Oakland
2: They needed Tennessee to lose to Jacksonville today
3: They needed Houston to lose tonight to Cincinnatti
4: They needed to win next week against Jacksonville
5: They needed the Titans to beat Houston next week
Tennessee lost to Jacksonville, so it was a good start to the day.
However, Derek Carr and the Raiders, who still have yet to clinch the AFC West division despite an 11-3 record, had other plans for the blue and white. Derek Carr threw 3 touchdowns in the first half, and Jalen Richard had a pair of 22-yard TD runs in the third quarter as Oakland built a 33-14 lead. They went on to win, 33-25, to improve to 12-3, while the Colts were officially eliminated from playoff contention completely. If the Broncos beat the Chiefs tomorrow, the Raiders clinch the AFC title, and a first round bye, which is huge, especially after today's huge news:
Early in the fourth quarter, quarterback Derek Carr was sacked, and he was carted off the field. It was later revealed to be a broken fibula, just like Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota. Carr is done for the season.
So, if Denver knocks off Kansas City tomorrow, Oakland clinches a first-round bye and the division title, meaning next week's game at Denver doesn't matter, and they can focus on how they're going to get by without Carr in the playoffs.
However, if Kansas City beats Denver, the Miami Dolphins clinch a playoff berth, and the Raiders have to focus on beating Denver next week. If Kansas City wins out, and Oakland loses next week to Denver, the Chiefs will win the division and a first-round bye.
A lot can happen for the Raiders over the next 8 days. But no matter what, they'll have to figure out how to get by without their star quarterback.
Just as I did with Marcus Mariota, I wish Derek Carr a speedy recovery, as he goes in for surgery tomorrow.
