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Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson has kicked four game-winning field goals this season, three in the last six weeks. Most recently, he kicked the Raiders into a must-win game in Week 18.
Las Vegas beat the Indianapolis Colts, 23-20, Sunday, Jan. 2 from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
It’s the team’s second win against teams ranked higher than it in the playoff chase in the last three weeks dating back to a win in Cleveland.
In addition, it’s the second three-game win streak for Las Vegas and the first since opening the season 3-0.
The Raiders are now 9-7 this year and 6-5 under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.
As of now they are eighth in the playoff hunt in the AFC, on the outside looking in now that the top seven teams from each conference will make the postseason.
Moreover, the team is currently tied for second in the AFC West with a regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers, the other team in second.
Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium will be the hosting site Sunday, Jan. 9. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m.
Carlson went 3-for-3 on field goals in the Raiders’ win against the Colts with a long of 47 yards.
He is still second in the league in points (122) and has made 91.4% of his attempts (32-for-35) this season.
Carlson also was perfect on his two extra point attempts to bring his grand total on the season to 26-of-29.
That game-winning field goal was set up by a 24-yard completion from quarterback Derek Carr to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow.
Originally, it was ruled a 48-yard touchdown completion after Renfrow made the catch, appearing to slide down untouched, getting back to his feet to finish the scoring play.
An official review by the officials ruled him down at the 24 yard-line.
Renfrow did catch Carr’s only touchdown pass of the day earlier in the fourth quarter to put the team up 20-17.
That catch marked the first 1,000-yard receiving season for the third-year receiver out of Clemson.
By the end of the night, he racked up 76 yards on seven catches and a career-long 41-yard punt return.
Renfrow now has 99 catches on the season, one away from becoming the second Raider receiver with 100 or more catches in a season.
With five catches against the Chargers, he will tie Hall-of-Famer Tim Brown for most catches in a single-season by a pass catcher in franchise history.
Wide receiver Zay Jones also set a career-high with 120 receiving yards on a team-high eight catches.
Tight end Darren Waller missed his fifth consecutive game battling a knee injury.
Carr didn’t have the smoothest of nights going 24-for-31 for 255 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
His first interception came in the first quarter with the team up 7-0.
He nearly threw his second in the second quarter but it was bobbled and dropped in the Colts’ secondary.
Indianapolis would successfully pick Carr off for a second time later in the third quarter, where he would be slow to get up. In addition, Carr was sacked twice.
Running back Josh Jacobs battled through a rib injury sustained in the first quarter after scoring Las Vegas’ first touchdown of the day.
He finished with 63 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.
Carr did lead the Raiders to a 6-for-14 mark on third down while the defense held the Colts to 3-for-11 on the other side.
Indianapolis was 1-for-7 on third down before their final drive in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Carson Wentz was a game-time decision to play after being activated from the COVID health and safety protocols.
Wentz struggled throughout the day, not completing his first pass until four minutes into the second quarter.
He finished with 148 yards on 16-of-27 passing with a touchdown.
That lone touchdown came on a pass deflection that was retrieved by wide receiver T.Y. Hilton in the end zone.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor had a record-setting day becoming Indianapolis’ single-season rushing leader surpassing Hall-of-Famer Edgerrin James.
Taylor finished with 108 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown, his 20th of the season.
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