Busters
S Trevon Moehrig, LB Divine Deablo
Each and every one of the Colts’ scoring drives featured one of these two rookie defenders giving up a key play along the way, if not the score itself.
The first scoring drive for the Colts began with Moehrig missing a tackle on an 18-yard Jonathan Taylor run. Next play Taylor ran for another 24 yards with Moehrig again missing the tackle.
The next Colts scoring drive began with Deablo giving up an 18-yard catch that put the Colts at the Vegas 38-yard-line. It ended with a touchdown to finish out the first half.
The second half began with a second consecutive Colts TD. It came on a deep shot from Carson Wentz in which Moehrig and Casey Hayward ran into each other trying to get to the ball, causing it to be tipped and caught by Colts WR TY Hilton for the 45-yard touchdown.
The final Colts scoring drive started with Deablo missing a tackle on an eight-yard run. Then moved into scoring range when Deablo gave up a six-yard catch on third and three. They kicked the field goal to tie the game at 20-20.
RG Alex Leatherwood
Last week, Leatherwood surprised everyone with an outstanding game. Easily the best game of the rookie’s NFL career thus far. Sunday he fell back to where he had been the rest of the season.
Late in the first quarter, the Raiders set up in outstanding field position at the Colts’ 35-yard-line after the big Renfrow punt return. They wouldn’t get much closer in part because Leatherwood didn’t block anyone, giving up a run stuff on Peyton Barber. Two plays later, in third and long, Carr was sacked.
Early in the second quarter, the Raiders were looking to answer the Colts’ first score. They would instead go three-and-out and on second down Leatherwood gave up a run stuff on Josh Jacobs. Carr was almost picked off on third down to force a punt.
He, no doubt, caused a few expletives from his coaches when the Raiders lined up in third-and-one from the ten-yard-line and he flinched to be flagged for a false start. Marcus Mariota was in the game due to the short-yardage situation. But after the false start, he left the game and Derek Carr was sacked to end the drive and force a field goal.
After the Colts took a 17-13 lead in the third quarter, Carr responded by throwing an interception. After he released the ball, Taylor Stallworth laid a hard hit on him, courtesy of Leatherwood.
DB Roderic Teamer
The Raiders didn’t really have a big threat of the pass with Carson Wentz. And yet somehow Teamer still managed to give up five catches for 36 yards.
The first catch went for eight yards and set up the Colts’ first score. Then he gave up three catches for 16 yards — including two first downs — on the touchdown drive late in the second quarter. And finally, on the Colts’ late, game-tying drive, he gave up a 12-yard catch to turn a potential third-and-long into a third and short. They picked up the first down on a read/option keeper.
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