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Writer's pictureTerrel Emerson

Raiders squeak past Browns, stay alive for playoffs

The Las Vegas Raiders won their second game in the last seven games and for the second time the win came off the foot of kicker Daniel Carlson.


Las Vegas beat the Cleveland Browns, 16-14, on the road from FirstEnergy Stadium Monday, Dec. 20.


Originally, the game was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18.


The Raiders improved to 7-7 on the year and 4-5 under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.


In addition, the win for the road team dropped Cleveland to 7-7 on the season as well.


Coming into the game, the Browns were eighth in the playoff race while the Raiders were 12th.


An AFC West matchup with the Denver Broncos is next for Las Vegas from Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Dec. 26.


Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m.


Carlson needed to kick home the 48-yard game-winner twice after Cleveland acting head coach Mike Priefer called a timeout on the first one in an attempt to ice him.


Bisaccia actually took three points off the board for the Browns at the end of the first half using the same tactic.


That decision sent Cleveland to its first first half shutout in the last three years.


After scoring seven points on the opening drive, the last nine Raider points came from Carlson.


Currently, Carlson is second in the NFL in points with 117, going 31-for-34 from the field. In addition, he is 24-for-27 in terms of extra points.


With the game being moved from Saturday due to COVID-related issues, Monday’s kick didn’t mean all issues were gone.


Cleveland came into the game with head coach Kevin Stefanski out, along with 18 players (eight of which were starters).


In addition, the team’s top two quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum were out, forcing quarterback Nick Mullens into a starting role with only one day of practice under his belt.


Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr was healthy for the road team and made his presence felt early.


Carr went 7-of-7 for 72 yards on his first drive before finding wide receiver Bryan Edwards for a five-yard touchdown to cap it off.


He finished the night with 236 yards on 25-of-38 passing with a touchdown and an interception. It was his first win in a game where he did not throw for 300 yards or more.


Carr was perfect heading into the second quarter at 9-for-9 before tight end Foster Moreau dropped a pass.


Moreau dropped a second one later in the quarter but did lead the team with seven receptions for 65 yards.


Wide receiver Zay Jones led the team with 67 yards on six catches.


Late in the first half, Carr surpassed the 4,000 passing yard mark for the fourth consecutive season.


Trouble came in the second half when Carr fumbled a snap on 3rd and 1 and recovered it short of the line to gain.


Las Vegas put the ball on the field more than once in the form of drops, fumbles or several muffed punts.


Carr wasn’t so lucky after the Raiders retained the ball on a fake punt as he turned the ball over on a strip sack.


He threw his lone interception late in the fourth quarter with Las Vegas down 14-13.


Cleveland only had the lead after running back Nick Chubb finally got the wheels turning.


Chubb was held to 14 yards on six carries in the first half and didn’t have an explosion until a 24-yard burst in the third quarter.


He would later score on another rush attempt, securing the first Brown touchdown in five quarters.


Chubb had a second touchdown wiped off the board due to an offensive holding.


He ended the night with 91 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown.

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