A quarterback who was brought into dysfunction and played through it has been told to go home. The most polarizing player in Las Vegas Raiders franchise history looks to be all but done in Vegas. The season has led to its inevitable end, and now the separation process moves forward. While the end isn’t guaranteed, it certainly looks that way with Carr sitting at home for the remainder of the season. It wasn’t exactly the end many had hoped for. Regardless, Carr delivered his share of great moments. Let’s take a look back at some of his most memorable moments with the Silver and Black.
Raiders vs. Broncos: Week 15, 2015
The Raiders were in a spiral. After starting the season 4-3, they sat at 5-7 and faced a Denver Broncos team fighting for a top seed in the playoffs and a top-rated defense. The first half was bad offensively, as the Raiders were held to negative 12 yards and couldn’t get out of their way. The good came out as the defense held the Broncos without a touchdown and gave up two field goals. The second half became a different story as Carr led an 85-yard drive out of the gate and hit Seth Roberts for a score.
After some back and forth of non-action between both, except for Khalil Mack becoming an Avenger, the Raiders were given another chance. A fumbled punt put the Raiders in a premium scoring position, and Carr hit Mychal Rivera for 16 yards and a lead they wouldn’t surrender. The Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl but beating Denver in Denver was big for Carr.
Derek Carr wins vs. Kansas City in 2014
The Raiders have been bottom dwellers for years, and this season was no different. They fired Dennis Allen after four games and were still 0-10. In a Thursday night matchup, they met the hated Kansas City Chiefs, who were in the playoff race and had everything in their favor. Two Latavius Murray touchdown runs led to Oakland being up 14-3 at the half, and the NFL was surprised. Then, in what seems to always happen, the Raiders were down 20-17 and Murray was knocked out of the game.
That’s when the first comeback for Derek Carr began. A drive that started at 9:03 had runs from Marcel Reece and Carr, picking up two fourth downs with a QB sneak as well as completing passes of eight, 11, eight, and the touchdown to James Jones of nine yards that would be the game-winner. It was the first win in 368 days, and against their hated rival, it was worth so much.
Raiders vs. Ravens: Week 2, 2015
That season, many folks looked at the Raiders as a potential sleeper. In retrospect, they had what appeared to be a good draft and some good offseason pickups. In Week 1, that talk was stopped as the Raiders were soundly beaten by the Cincinnati Bengals and now played the Baltimore Ravens. Oakland jumped out to a 10-0 lead and had the wheels spinning in their favor. The game then went back and forth, and at one point, the Silver and Black held a 30-20 lead. Then, as always, they were quickly behind the eight ball, as after an interception they were down 33-30. In what became a typical thing for the team, Carr drove the team down the field for 65 yards and ended it with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts for the win.
The Carr And Crabtree Connection
The dream season was in full swing. The 2016 version of the Raiders rolled into San Diego 11-3, and a victory would clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2002. The game was ugly, if we’re being honest. It was a pretty game for Carr stat-wise, as he went 19-of-30 for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree with the “Slice of Blue” call tied the game at 10 going into the half, and in the second half, field goals netted the Raiders their first playoff appearance in 14 years and what appeared to be the righting of the ship.
Derek Carr led the Raiders to the postseason
The 2021 season was nothing if not turbulent. The Raiders started 3-0 and dropped the next two games. Then, head coach Jon Gruden had emails leaked in which he made some disparaging remarks about people and communities. He resigned, and the season moved on. The Raiders won the next two and were feeling good during the bye week. First-round pick Henry Ruggs’ drunk driving killed a woman in Vegas during the bye week, and the team, seemingly shaken up by the accident, dropped five of the next six games. The Raiders, at 6-7, appeared to be on the way to focusing on the draft, but they instead responded with a three-game winning streak and went into the season finale with the playoffs in their sights.
What ensued was one of the most memorable season finales in years. A battle that went 17-14 into the break with Vegas ahead turned into a 29-14 lead, and Justin Herbert then led two drives to tie the game going into overtime. The overtime began with both teams trading field goals, and Vegas went on a drive to try and win the game. Vegas went 46 yards down the field, led by a 17-yard pass from Carr to Bryan Edwards.
This was a beauty from Carr, one that will live on
He also threw a dime 11-yard pass to Zay Jones on third and eight. That completion kept the drive alive after a big run from Josh Jacobs. Carr, in one of the most memorable moments in recent history with the camera on him, called timeout with two seconds left and had a big smile on his face as he did it. Kicker Daniel Carlson crushed a 47-yard field goal to win it. With everything that happened throughout the year, Carr hitting Jones on that route appeared to let you know that Vegas would make it to the playoffs.
All things come to an end, but many questions will remain…
Derek Carr was a lightning rod for both good and bad news. It appears his tenure with the franchise is over, and it’s been a wild ride. There are questions from every direction here. If he doesn’t get hurt in 2016, maybe they win it all. In 2017, if Jack Del Rio doesn’t let Bill Musgrave go, does the team regress? What happened in Washington? Why move on after 2021 and pick up Josh McDaniels after everything that happened? The nine-year run is over, one in which Carr was the future and was loved, and one in which he is now the former starter. The NFL is a business, and Vegas made a business decision.
Raiders Bench 3-Time Pro Bowl QB Derek Carr, The Nation Reacts
*Top Photo: Yahoo Sports