Oakland Raiders: The good, bad, and ugly in week eight loss to Colts

Good(ish): The Muscle Hamster Emerges… Kinda

With Marshawn Lynch on injured reserve – and his brief stint with the Raiders very likely over now – the team was forced to turn to backup Doug Martin to shoulder the load.

Live Feed

FanSided

Twice a 1,400 yard plus rusher (but also four times a sub-500 yards rusher), there was a lot of anxiety about how Martin would perform after being thrust back into the role of a featured back. For the most part against Indianapolis, Martin looked good. He looked capable. Perhaps not as electric as he has been in his past, but he seemed competent, and did just enough to keep the Colts from pinning their ears back and coming after Carr – allowing him the time to operate.

On the day, Martin rushed 13 times for 72 yards, for a solid average of 5.5 yards per carry. With a mix of speed, and a little bit of power, Martin helped this offense move crisply and sharply.

Of course – because we can’t have nice things – Martin also cost the Raiders big time. With the team trailing 35-28 late in the fourth quarter, they’d just gotten the ball back. And with the way Carr was moving the offense, there was every reason to believe he could take the team back down the field.

However, on first down, Martin was stripped by Colts linebacker Darius Leonard, on a play he should have seen coming and protected himself against. But the ball came out, the Colts set up shop on the 27-yard line, and needed just five plays to stick the dagger in, scoring a touchdown to go up 42-28, effectively ending the game.

Martin was good for most of the game. That play though, was the turning point in the game, and was a heavy factor in the Raiders losing.