Raiders Advance to Divisional Round Behind Carney’s Commanding Performance

Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Raiders punched their ticket to the Divisional Round with a 35-14 win over the Indianapolis Colts at Allegiant Stadium. Behind a sharp performance from quarterback Trent Carney, the Raiders dominated early, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions and never looking back.

Offense Executes to Perfection

Carney finished the game completing 26 of 32 passes for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns, including scoring strikes to Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, and Pierre Briggs. He also added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory with a 6-yard run that capped off a methodical drive.

"We wanted to come out fast and set the tone," said Raiders head coach Max Farias. "Trent was surgical today. When he's playing like that, we're tough to beat."

The Raiders' offense didn't just lean on the passing game. Imani Younger led the ground attack with 81 rushing yards and a bruising 2-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The offense executed with precision, converting consistently and finishing drives in the red zone.

Defense Clamps Down on Arrieta

Meanwhile, the defense made life difficult for Jayden Arrieta, who was sacked four times and limited to 169 passing yards despite completing 90% of his throws. Maxx Crosby led the Raiders’ pass rush with 1.5 sacks, while T.J. Watt, Tuli Tuipulotu, and others collapsed the pocket throughout the afternoon.

The Colts briefly gained momentum in the second quarter with a 45-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Taylor, but the Raiders immediately responded with two unanswered scores before halftime.

"We had a solid week of preparation, but we didn't execute in key moments," said Colts coach Shane Steichen. "Vegas capitalized on every mistake. That's what great teams do."

Indianapolis added one final touchdown with under two minutes left, a short pass from Arrieta to Anthony Gould, but it was far too late. The Raiders' defense closed the door with a final stand.

Up Next

With the win, the third-seeded Raiders will travel to face the second-seeded New York Jets in the Divisional Round-a rematch of their regular season showdown.

"We know what's waiting for us in New York," said Carney. "But we're confident. We'll be ready."