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OAKLAND https://www.coltsfanshop.com/Jack-Mewhort-Jersey , Calif. (AP) — Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders were flying high the last time they faced the Indianapolis Colts.Carr threw three touchdown passes to lead Oakland to its 12th win of the season on Christmas Eve in 2016, but got knocked out late in that game with a broken ankle. That has sent the Raiders into a downward spiral they still haven’t escaped.The Raiders (1-5) are reeling as they head into Sunday’s game against the Colts (2-5), having traded away No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper to Dallas earlier in the week after previously dealing away star pass rusher Khalil Mack before the season.The trio of Carr, Cooper and Mack were the foundation pieces in Oakland, but now only Carr remains and the team is once again rebuilding.“For me, being in my fifth year, it’s hard if I’m being honest,” Carr said. “Just going out there, I feel like we’ve had to do this a couple of times in my early five years. That part is hard. At the same time, it doesn’t change my mindset.”The Raiders have gone just 7-17 since that victory over the Colts and changed coaches, with Jon Gruden coming in this season to replace the fired Jack Del Rio.Carr’s level of play has also dropped, with him throwing 29 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in his 21 games since then, compared to 38 TD passes and 13 interceptions in the previous 21 games.“I definitely feel like a better player,” Carr said. “I’m smarter. I know more. Talent-wise, I think after last year just recovering from injury, I’m back to my strength and my speed how I want it to be. Absolutely I believe that I have nothing but the best out in front of me. I really do believe that.”Colts coach Frank Reich, who was an assistant in the AFC West with the Chargers for Carr’s first two seasons in the NFL, had plenty of praise for Carr even if his production has dropped of late.“He has really good arm talent,” Reich said. “He sees the field really well. He can make all the throws. He can drive the ball all over the field. He can throw the touch pass. I just think he shows good instincts. I think he has good feel in the pocket. This is a guy who I think can put a lot of points on the board leading an offense.”Here are some other things to watch for Sunday’s game:LINING UPColts general manager Chris Ballard made the offensive line a focal point during the offseason. It shows. For the first time this season, the Colts used the same starting five in consecutive games and they delivered by paving the way for Marlon Mack to rush for a career high 126 yards. It’s only the fifth 100-yard game during Andrew Luck’s seven NFL seasons. Also J'Marcus Webb Jersey , Luck has been sacked only once in his last 125 pass attempts after getting sacked 166 times in his first 77 career games.“We must stay vigilant in all areas and we’ve got a great challenge against an aggressive Oakland defense, a defense that’s tough to figure out,” Luck said.WHERE’S THE BEAST?Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch went on injured reserve this week with a groin injury, leaving a big void in Oakland’s offense. Lynch leads the Raiders with 372 yards rushing. Now the bulk of the load will go to Doug Martin, whose 3.0 yards per carry the past three seasons is the lowest in the NFL among players with at least 150 attempts. Third-down back Jalen Richard could also take on a bigger role as a runner, and DeAndre Washington figures to get his first action of the season after being hampered by a knee injury in training camp.“You can’t bring another Marshawn Lynch into the game, but we have a solid group of backs who can get the job done,” Richard said.MITCHELL’S RETURNColts safety Mike Mitchell was out of the league until two weeks ago. Now, he’s about to make his first trip back to the Black Hole since he left Oakland in 2012. And while Mitchell said he enjoyed the fans while he was there, the AFC’s reigning defensive player of the week isn’t sure what to expect. But the Raiders’ second-round draft pick in 2009 is just glad to have found a home.“I could be winning an award this week, they could be calling for my head next week,” Mitchell said. “I just take everything with a grain of salt.”JUST FOR KICKSThe final game of Gruden’s first stint as Raiders coach ended with a kick by Adam Vinatieri. On a snowy night in New England on Jan. 19, 2002, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Patriots to a 16-13 victory.The game was most notable for the “Tuck Rule,” which turned a potential game-sealing strip sack in regulation for Oakland into an incomplete pass, setting the stage for Vinatieri to tie the game with an improbable 45-yard field goal in the snow. Vinatieri is still kicking and needs five points to break Morten Andersen’s NFL career scoring record (2,544 points). But Vinatieri’s status is in doubt this week because of an injured groin. Stop me if you’ve heard this before: one of Chris Ballard’s 2019 NFL Draft picks has a sparkling background and character. On the field, Stanford linebacker Bobby Okereke has earned a reputation..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteStampede Bluean Indianapolis Colts communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsColtsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Colts StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Colts NewsYahoo Colts Team PageYahoo Colts ReportYahoo Colts Depth ChartYahoo Colts TransactionsYahoo Colts PhotosShop About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Filed under:Indianapolis Colts Draft CentralLinebacker Bobby Okereke brings speed, range, locker room influence to Colts defenseNew Jordan Wilkins Color Rush Jersey ,15commentsEDTShareTweetShareShareLinebacker Bobby Okereke brings speed, range, locker room influence to Colts defenseStan Szeto-USA TODAY SportsStop me if you’ve heard this before: one of Chris Ballard’s 2019 NFL Draft picks has a sparkling background and character. On the field, Stanford linebacker Bobby Okereke has earned a reputation for his rare speed at the position. That speed played an important role in allowing him to lead the Cardinals in tackles in his senior season. It also helped him excel in short-zone coverage, an area the Colts are looking to improve.One of the things that separates him from other players at his position is his intelligence and football IQ. He does an excellent job of getting a read on plays early and getting himself into position to disrupt backs, receivers, and quarterbacks. If a rangy, speedy, linebacker with the ability to make plays sounds familiar, it should come as little surprise that one of the primary player comparisons for Okereke is Colts All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. Imagine if Okereke can develop into a player who can be anywhere close to Leonard in terms of on-field production. It would put the Colts linebacker position at or near the top of the league.While the ability to excel on the field must take precedent for NFL front offices and scouting departments, Chris Ballard has been placing a premium on the mental and character aspects of future Colts players. Okereke’s parents immigrated from Nigeria, hoping to give their family a chance to receive a world class education and an opportunity to live the American Dream. Their son just graduated with a degree from Stanford University, one of the most well-respected educational institutions in the world. Okereke started playing football his freshman year in high school and did so well that he was recruited to play for a major program at Stanford. He used each season, including a redshirt year, to improve his game. He grew quickly from special teams contributor to defensive role-player to the team’s leading tackler.One can’t help but come away impressed with Okereke after listening to him tell his story and respond to interview questions. He is well-spoken, clearly intelligent, and it’s one writer’s opinion that he will quickly become good buddies with fellow Stanford graduate Andrew Luck. Quenton Nelson is also likely to call him a nerd.Take a look at Okereke’s Stanford Story and an interview with him after his final regular season game against Cal. He is a tremendous ambassador for himself, his family, and his team. It’s exciting to think about what Chris Ballard is building in the Colts locker room.