Raiders deal Browns heart-breaking loss with last-minute goal

The Las Vegas Raiders fought off a rally by the Cleveland Browns with a last-minute field goal by Daniel Carlson to win 16-14. It was a heartbreaking loss for the covid-ravaged Browns who were on track to be at the top of AFC North but then dropped to last place after the loss.

Carlson made the winning 48-yard kick- his third field goal of the game- as time expired and the Raiders were down one point.

The game had been pushed back two days by the league due to an increase in covid-19 cases in the NFL.

Shorthanded Browns

Las Vegas went into the game having lost five of their last six matchups, but they came up against a much-depleted Browns.

Cleveland had 22 players on the covid-19 list, leaving them without a dozen regulars. Included in the list were starting quarterback Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum. This left third-string quarterback Nick Mullens to act as signal caller. Three of the team’s coaches were also out of action due to covid.

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Muddy playoff waters

The Raiders’ victory leaves both teams at 7-7. The Raiders are now in third place tied with the Denver Broncos in AFC West, keeping their playoff chances alive. The Browns are in last place in AFC North behind the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6), the Baltimore Raven (8-6), and the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1), and are at No. 12 in the AFC and with dimmer hopes for a playoff spot.

There are now 13 AFC teams with a .500 or higher record heading into Week 16, leaving the AFC a veritable free-for-all for the playoffs in the last few weeks of the regular season.