Colts at Raiders
While the Oakland Raiders already have punched their ticket to the postseason, the Indianapolis Colts aim to keep alive their playoff hopes when they visit the the AFC West leaders on Saturday. Indianapolis is in danger of missing the postseason for a second straight year, as it trails AFC South co-leaders Houston and Tennessee by one game and Miami by two for the second wild-card berth in the conference.
The Colts are hoping their recent success on the road will continue Sunday, as they've won four straight away from home - scoring at least 31 points each time - after losing their first three. Oakland, which is returning to the playoffs for the first time since its Super Bowl appearance in the 2002 season, has its sights set on even bigger things Saturday. The Raiders can clinch the division title and a first-round bye with either a victory and a loss or tie by Kansas City or a tie and a Denver triumph over the Chiefs on Sunday. Oakland is on a streak of its own, as it has won four in a row at home after dropping two of its first three.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Raiders -3.5. O/U: 53
ABOUT THE COLTS (7-7): Frank Gore is having another strong season as he is 109 rushing yards away from reaching 1,000 for the ninth time in his 12-year career and 58 scrimmage yards shy of passing Curtis Martin, Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders to become the first player in NFL history with at least 1,200 in 11 consecutive seasons. The 33-year-old product of Miami also needs 201 scrimmage yards to overtake Thurman Thomas (16,532) for ninth place on the all-time list. T.Y. Hilton, who along with punter Pat McAfee was selected to the Pro Bowl, enters Week 16 five receiving yards behind Atlanta's Julio Jones (1,253) for the league lead.
ABOUT THE RAIDERS (11-3): Oakland had a league-high seven players selected for the Pro Bowl, with five of them chosen to start the contest. One of those is Amari Cooper, who - along with fellow receiver Michael Crabtree (finger) - was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a shoulder issue. Guard Kelechi Osemele, who was one of the team's three offensive linemen selected as starters, did not participate in practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Raiders LB Bruce Irvin was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording two sacks, six tackles - including two for losses, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble in Sunday's triumph at San Diego.
2. Indianapolis is 6-7 in the all-time series but has won each of the last four meetings.
3. Oakland also had QB Derek Carr, T Donald Penn, C Rodney Hudson, DE Khalil Mack and S Reggie Nelson named to the Pro Bowl roster.