After a slow start where they couldn’t pick up a first down the entire first quarter, the Raiders finally got something going in the second, mounting two scoring drives courtesy of the leg of Sebastian Janikowski. Campbell completed a few passes to Darrius Heyward-Bey and Marcel Reese to pick up a first down, and a Michael Bush 15 yard run set up a 59 yard field goal by the Polish Powderkeg to tie the game at ten. Campbell would make some big throws to Louis Murphy and Chaz Schilens to set up another Janikowski field goal, handing the Raiders their second lead of the game.
But Peyton Manning, as is typical of his stature as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, marched the Colts down the field right before halftime, picking up 88 yards on 8 plays and in 79 seconds. Although it wasn’t really Manning beating the Raider defense as much as it was the Raiders defense beating themselves. Lamarr Houston committed an unnecessary roughness penalty, Chris Johnson committed a pass interference, and the Colts were in the red zone within a blink. Manning threw a touchdown to Jacob Tamme on the next play, giving the Colts their halftime lead.
To discuss the game with fellow Raiders fans, head on over to the Silver Black and Pride second half thread.