Derek Carr Goes Down With Broken Fibula, Oakland Raiders Hang On To Defeat Colts 33-25

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Oakland, Calif. — Everything was going right for the Oakland Raiders against the Indianapolis Colts until the 11:07 mark of the fourth quarter. Their leader Derek Carr needed help getting of the field on Christmas eve.

In the Raiders 33-22 victory over the Colts at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Carr suffered a broken fibula when he was sacked by linebacker Trent Cole. Surrounded by photographers on the sideline, Carr was escorted to an emergency vehicle waiting outside the facility.

The Raiders (12-3) won the game 33-25, but Matt McGloin finished at the helm in place of Carr. Following the game, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said Carr is out indefinitely and will require surgery on Monday. The Raiders finished 6-2 at home, but the victory was bittersweet.

“Good victory for the team, but unfortunately it came with a setback of our quarterback,” Del Rio said. “Once he healed and ready to go, then we’ll go. But until then he’ll be healing. Teams have to find a way to pick up and move on and rally around the next guy the best we can.”

Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano talks about his team's 33-25 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Dec. 24, 2016.

Carr finished the game by completing 20 of 30 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half. The Raiders were already up 33-14. McGloin, who will likely be the starting quarterback in the playoffs for the Raiders, completed two passes for 29 yards.

“It’s going all around like that in the NFL with a quarterback playing really well,” said Raiders receiver Amari Cooper. “You just hate to see it happen to a guy who has been playing well and he’s a great guy. It’s just a sad moment.”

DeAndre Washington ran for 99 yards and two TDS on 12 attempts for the Raiders. Washington gobbled up 93 yards in the second half to help Oakland seal the victory.

Andrew Luck completed 19 of 29 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two critical interceptions in the first half of play. T.Y. Hilton caught four passes for 105 yards for the Colts (7-8).

“He knows he can’t throw them and you can’t force things,” Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said of Luck’s miscues. “Just can’t do it.”

Carr tossed his first TD, a 1-yarder, to Andre Holmes no sooner than the second quarter started. Carr’s second aerial pass for score was a 5-yard pitch to tight end Clives Walford to put the Raiders up 14-7 with 5:52 left in first half. He gave the Raiders a 20-6 halftime lead by hitting Jalen Richard for a 4-yard score.

Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio was not happy about delivering the news that his quarterback Derek Carr had a broken leg. Photo art by T. Ray Harvey.

Sidney Moncrief catch a 24-yard touchdown pass from Luck with 9:54 remaining in the second half. Luck threw two interceptions in the first half, the first to Nate Allen in the first quarter while the latter was picked off by Reggie Nelson over T.Y. Hilton late in the second quarter.

Washington 22-yard run for a TD gave the Raiders a 27-6 run in the third quarter. Malcolm Smith forced Gore to fumble and T.J. Carrier recovered the football for the Raiders on the Colts’ first offensive series. Washington ran in for another 22-yard TD that put that gave the 24-point margin.

Robert Turbin caught a 3-yard touchdown from Luck, but the Raiders never looked back. Oakland kept up with its offensive-running scheme. The Raiders scored on five-consecutive drives throwing and running.

When Carr left the game, the Colts scored 11 points off of a ?-yard run by Luck, followed by a two-point conversion by Hilton, and a 42-yard field goal by Vinateri. The Raiders kept their composure by moving the markers in the last couple of minutes. McGloin found Cooper for a 19-yard catch with 2:22 remaining to give the Raiders a first down and more time to run the clock down.

By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist

PRESS INFORMATION:

• Derek Carr 4-yard TD for the Raiders surpassed 160 yards, which allowed him to surpass Jeff Hostetler for the seventh-most passing yards in franchise history.

• The Oakland Raiders’ defense pitched a scoreless first quarter for the eighth time this season. The Indianapolis Colts got as close to the 30-yard line in Oakland territory but failed to score in the first quarter. The Silver and Black have allowed 36 points in first quarter play in 2016, ranking second in the NFL.

• Raiders fans erupt in cheering when they found out the Buffalo Bills (1-14) finally won a game this season. The Bills beat the San Diego Chargers (20-17).

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photo Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.