PFF Recap: Grading the Oakland Raiders in Week 4
By Austin Gayle
Carr and Crabtree Connection Takes Center Stage
Though he had just 199 yards through the air, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr polished his stat line with four touchdown passes, three of which going to his favorite receiver, Michael Crabtree.
"“I’ve been a big fan of [Crabtree’s] since he was at Texas Tech,” Carr said. “I was so thankful that he came to Oakland. When he came here as a free agent, I did my best to keep him from leaving before he signed a contract. When I talked to him, I told him that we could do something really special here in Oakland. He’s a game-changer, but what has surprised me is how much we have in common. We think alike, and we are both very competitive. I know I can always count on him.”"
And count on him he did, as Carr connected with Crabtree on seven of his season-high 12 targets for 88 yards and, of course, the three touchdowns.
With Cooper drawing the Ravens’ top corner Jimmy Smith over to his side, Crabtree took advantage of his matchup against their No. 2 cornerback Shareece Wright, as expected.
On the Raiders’ go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, Crabtree beat Wright for a 23-yard touchdown, as Wright took an invite to Dancing with the Stars halfway through the route.
Carr and Crabtree headlined as the Raiders’ top two offensive performers on the day, grading out to 85.1 and 84.1, respectively.