​This has been a pretty good year for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. So far, he’s thrown for 2,002 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 69.7 completion percentage. Moreover, he has taken deep shots more often. The last few seasons have been trying, but he has definitely reinvigorated the franchise and has given fans something to root for every Sunday.
What are we looking into?
Once again, Carr has used his wheels, bringing back memories of 2016. His performance against the Cleveland Browns was subpar, but the weather might’ve played a factor. Heading into Week 9, it was fair to ask whether he could perform better against the Chargers?
​If you look at the box score, you say, what did he really do? He was 13-of-23 for 165 yards, two touchdowns, and had two carries for 14 yards. The first half especial was not his best as he threw for a paltry 44 yards. However, you could see hope may have been restored in the third quarter.
Carr was on the move on a third-down and hit Hunter Renfrow with a 53-yard pass on the numbers. A few plays later, ‘4’ jumped over the defender to get a first down. This play had the team jumping up and down. Two plays later, he found tight end Darren Waller for a touchdown.
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Carr is the main reason why the Raiders are winning
​That drive came after Carr hit Nelson Agholor with a 45-yard touchdown reception that put Las Vegas in the lead. Carr finished the third quarter with 101 yards and two touchdowns. He didn’t register mind-blowing numbers but he is not the reason for the bad plays or the mistakes that have plagued him in previous seasons. He is making winning plays and seems to be playing fearless. On the other hand, he is still losing fumbles, which is frustrating and needs to be worked on.Â
Did Carr bounce back? Numbers say no, but the eye test says yes. The veteran quarterback made winning plays and displayed command. He scrambled and made deep attempts and connected on a couple. His jump in the third quarter showed he’s just playing all out and is all in right now.
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Top Image: Alex Gallardo/Associated Press