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After pulling off an upset win on the road and keeping their playoff hopes alive on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders proved that they've still got the skill and will to keep pace in the highly competitive AFC Wild Card race. With some stellar play calling plus Zay Jones and Divine Deablo both having big days for Las Vegas, the Raiders were terrific on all fronts and were able to stall the scorching-hot Colts on Sunday in Week 17 action.
Given everything the Raiders have endured this season, especially with the Jon Gruden fiasco, the fact that they're still standing and able to remain in the playoff mix is a truly remarkable feat in itself. Las Vegas now faces a win-and-in scenario against the Los Angeles Chargers to finish the season in Week 18.
But before that, we'll now discuss two key takeaways from the Raiders' clutch Week 17 victory over the Colts, a 23-20 triumph at the buzzer thanks to a Daniel Carlson field goal.
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Las Vegas Raiders Week 17 Takeaways
2. Zay Jones had his way with Colts
With 120 yards receiving on eight receptions, Zay Jones torched the Colts' secondary and made big plays for the Raiders all day long. While Jones was rather quiet to start the season, he has really come on in a big way during this final push to the playoffs. After failing to catch more than two passes in any game until Thanksgiving, the wideout has now caught at least five balls in five of his last six outings.
Knowing they're now able to count on Jones in the midst of a roller-coaster season has definitely been a major plus for the Raiders while they've remained in the thick of the AFC playoff race. If they hope to keep their spot and make a splash in the postseason, they'll need another electric performance from Jones against the explosive Chargers in Week 18.
1. Derek Carr overcame adversity during the Raiders' crucial win
Despite throwing two untimely interceptions and getting off to a rough start against Indianapolis, Derek Carr was still able to turn things around and lead the Raiders to a crucial victory in Week 17. He came away with a touchdown and 255 yards passing on the day to help Las Vegas seal the victory to improve to 9-7 on the season.
In what's set to be a wild finish to the 2021 NFL regular season, Carr will need to have another huge performance if the Raiders are to make their first playoff appearance since 2016. With so much riding on the Week 18 matchup against the Chargers, be on the lookout for Carr to put up some big numbers against LA's defensive unit as he tries to outduel Justin Herbert.
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All in all, Sunday's epic victory against the Colts revitalized the Raiders' playoff hopes and gave them a few bright spots to look forward to in Week 18. With a ton of excitement following Sunday's win, the Raiders are now in prime position to make the playoffs and potentially even go on a surprise run.
If they can keep their composure and not let up, then all bets are off as the Raiders will be out to take down another playoff hopeful next weekend. So on Sunday night, the Raiders will look to come out ahead against their longtime AFC West rival and earn their themselves a trip to the 2022 NFL Playoffs with a big victory.
