As the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for their road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, here are three matchups to follow.
Jackson Powers-Johnson vs. DeForest Buckner
After missing two games coming out of concussion protocol, Jackson Powers-Johnson looked dominant against the Chicago Bears.
Pro Football Focus gave him a team-high 85.4 pass blocking grade, and he did not allow a single sack or pressure throughout the game. He even had two tackles on Kevin Byard III to prevent interceptions returned for touchdowns.
"I was really happy with JPJ's game," Pete Carroll said Wednesday, "and he's going to start this week, and we're looking forward to seeing him contribute again. He had a good, significant role now that we can see it all happen."
His fast and physical style of play will be needed more than ever against a Colts interior line starring All-Pro tackle DeForest Buckner. The three-time Pro Bowler has a career 67.5 sacks and 92 tackles for loss. He's been the catalyst for a Colts defense that's allowed the eighth-least amount of rushing yards to opposing offenses this season. Additionally, his run tackle percentage of 31.7 leads all defensive tackles, per Next Gen Stats.
"Great interior D-line ... especially with D-Fo [Deforest Buckner]," Powers-Johnson said. "Me being an Oregon guy looking up to him, getting able to play him and test my metal against those guys, it's definitely going to be a challenge but I'm excited for it."
Coming off a Week 4 game where Geno Smith wasn't sacked and the ground game exploding for 240 yards, this matchup will be imperative to win – especially with left tackle Kolton Miller going down with an ankle injury.
Brock Bowers vs. Tyler Warren
Colts rookie tight end Tyler Warren has taken the league by storm, with the first-rounder immediately becoming a top target within the offense and excelling due to his versatility.
Sound familiar?
It wasn't too long ago Brock Bowers was wearing the same shoes in Las Vegas, leading the Raiders in receptions and receiving yards en route to becoming the fourth rookie tight end since 1960 to be named first-team All-Pro. And even while dealing with a knee injury sustained in this year's opener, he's still second on the team in catches (19) and receiving yards (225).
"They've got extremely well equipped, skilled people. Tyler, the new tight end, he's their number one targeted guy," Carroll said.
The Colts have been using Warren in a similar role he thrived in at Penn State as a tailback in certain formations. While he's leading the league among all tight ends in receiving yards (263), he also punched in a rushing touchdown from the two-yard line in last week's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
With both of these players meaning so much to their respective offenses, it should be entertaining for this next generation of young tight ends to compete in real time.
Raiders run defense vs. Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor has been on a tear to start the season, but that shouldn't be surprising given his track record and his offensive line.
Four weeks into the season, he's leading the NFL in rushing yards with 414, averaging a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. Taylor is more than capable of, literally, carrying the offense – having led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2021. His play is amplified by left guard Quenton Nelson, who's been selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls and counting. On the other side, right guard Matt Goncalves has allowed a three percent pressure rate, the fourth-lowest at the position in the league (min. 50 snaps).
However the Raiders run defense has been stout, with the likes of Maxx Crosby, Devin White, Elandon Roberts and Jamal Adams popping out on tape. They're 13th in the league in fewest rushing yards allowed. With the exception of allowing over 200 rushing yards to the Commanders, they've allowed an average of 70 rushing yards in their other three games.
"[O]ur run defense has been solid," Carroll said. "We've been pretty consistent. ... This was a really good outing for us. I thought both sides of the ball really benefited from the week of practice. I've made a big deal about it."
The Raiders hit the practice field as they prepare for their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) in the weight room during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jeff Driskel (17) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center Will Putnam (67) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Brian Asamoah II (53) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cody Lindenberg (55) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Cappa (65) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues (92) walks out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
The Las Vegas Raiders offensive linemen during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center Will Putnam (67) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterbacks Kenny Pickett (15) and Jeff Driskel (17) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Cam Miller (5) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders head strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel and tackle DJ Glaze (71) walk out to the field for practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Leroy Watson IV (77) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Leroy Watson IV (77) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders run game coordinator/defensive line coach Rob Leonard during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Carter Runyon (46) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Charles Grant (60) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) in a huddle during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle JJ Pegues (92) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant defensive line coach Kenyon Jackson and defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Treven Ma'ae (68) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Germaine Pratt (57) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tristin McCollum (27) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (29) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tristin McCollum (27) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety JT Woods (40) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Spytek during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Carter Runyon (46) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II (13) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49), defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Brian Asamoah II (53) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
