After five weeks of football, the Las Vegas Raiders currently hold a 3-2 record. One big reason for it is quarterback Derek Carr, who is having a career year.Â
The Raiders are getting production from the quarterback position
Derek Carr has been one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL in recent years. While some argue he belongs in the league’s quarterback top echelon, others believe he shouldn’t be the Raiders quarterback. As with most things in life, the truth may line in between. He’s not a bottom dweller quarterback nor he’s an elite signal-caller, at least not through the first seven years of his career.
The Fresno State standout had arguably one of the best games of his career against the Kansas City Weeks just this past week. On the other hand, the New England Patriots decyphered him in Week 3. It’s true also that he holds most Raiders passing records and that is worth recognizing.
However, context is important and we have to remember that he’s benefited from rules that currently encourage teams to throw the ball. Back when Ken Stabler set the previous records, quarterbacks seldom threw for more than 20 touchdowns in a season and it was rare to see them reach the 4,000-yard mark.
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Derek Carr is playing like a top 5 quarterback
Carr has always had the numbers but that hasn’t translated into wins for the Raiders. This year is different and is starting to feel like 2016 when he led the team to a 12-3 record (he missed the last game of the season). Outplaying quarterback Patrick Mahomes is no easy task but Carr did it and showed he can keep up with the best. It’s true he didn’t play as well against the Patriots or the Buffalo Bills, but the good plays outweigh the bad ones by a large margin so far.
Carr’s numbers are among the best in the league after five weeks. He ranks sixth in passing yards with 11, eighth in passing yards with 1,442, and second in completion percentage with 73.1. Furthermore, his yard-per-attempt average sits at 8.2, the best of his career. He’s showing a disposition to take more shots downfield this year, which explains the increase.
The Raiders should be pleased with Carr’s play this year. Fans and analyst can express their opinion regarding the quarterback. Nevertheless, the team is the only one that matters, and looking at his results on the field, there’s not much to complain about in 2020.
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Top Photo: Las Vegas Raiders official YouTube channel
