The Las Vegas Raiders avoided a more than avoidable defeat at the last moment. The Raiders won 16-14 at the Cleveland Browns thanks to a last-second field goal.

Munich/Cleveland – The Las Vegas Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive after Week 15. The Raiders won what was supposed to be a Saturday night game (German time) at the Cleveland Browns 16-14.

Browns weakened by substitutions fight back to the best of their ability

The Browns were even ahead until the two-minute warning, despite missing 18 players due to Covid illnesses, including eight starters. Daniel Carlson, kicker for the Raiders who recently signed a new contract, decided the game with a 48-yard field goal as time expired.

Nick Mullens, quarterback number three, truly didn’t have a bad game for the Browns with 67 percent of the ball attached, 147 yards of space gained and a touchdown.

Mullens was supported by the running game of Nick Chubb, who also had a solid game with 91 yards and a rushing touchdown, even if his average (four yards per run) left something to be desired. The best Browns receiver was Donavan Peoples-Jones with 48 receiving yards, the touchdown was caught by Harrison Bryant.

Raiders with too many mistakes

The Raiders, for their part, won the game but did not put in a good performance, especially in the second half. They had held the Browns to zero points at the break, the first time they had done so since 2018, and were trailing 13-14 after more than avoidable mistakes.

Derek Carr completed 25 of his 38 passes, gaining 236 yards, a touchdown (to Bryan Edwards) and an interception to Browns cornerback Greedy Williams.

The Raiders face the Denver Broncos at home in Week 16. With three wins in the remaining three games, they could even make the playoffs.

The Browns host the Green Bay Packers in the next prime time game next Saturday. There they will hope to get back some players from the Covid list.