Oakland Raiders: Five thoughts on the win over Cleveland

Sep 27, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) stiff arms Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Tank Carder (59) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Raiders won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

1. Carr to Cooper has Arrived

For the second straight week, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper hooked up for over 100 yards and devastated a talented opposing secondary. The talk about Carr and Cooper being the future is great, but it needs to end now: Carr and Cooper are the present. Over two weeks, against two tough opponents, Carr has targeted Cooper 22 times, completed 15 of those passes, for 243 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers are impressive, aren’t fluky, and are only going to get better when the Raiders face weaker opposition like next week against the Bears.

Cooper is already drawing the best opposing corners and coverage schemes that seek to take him away, and it just isn’t working. Carr is already finding him and working the ball to him and Bill Musgrave is designing and calling plays that get the ball out of Carr’s hands and into Cooper’s as often as possible. As these two spend more time together, as the year goes on, this tandem is only going to get better and it’s going to be awesome to watch.

Next: Week 3 Thoughts: Carr to Cooper Arrives