5 realistic expectations for the Oakland Raiders in Week 15

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates with tight end Lee Smith #86 after after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 09: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates with tight end Lee Smith #86 after after a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum on December 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 02: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 02: Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Derek Carr continues his INT-less streak

For all the noise surrounding Derek Carr at the beginning of the season, the fifth-year starting quarterback is playing at an elite level as we enter the final three games of the season. In fact, he has not thrown an interception in eight games, and based on what we have seen with him learning Jon Gruden’s offense, his best  years are likely in front of him.

Carr is already all over the Raiders records books, but he has an opportunity to pass Rich Gannon for most consecutive passes without an interception on Sunday. Gannon’s record of 277 passes without a pick could fall in the first half this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, as Carr needs only 15 in a row to set the record.

One look at Carr’s statistics over the last eight games and it is clear that he has gotten the hang of Gruden’s offense, and should be the signal-caller for this team for the foreseeable future. The Raiders have a bunch of holes on their roster, but quarterback is definitely not one of them, and they should do nothing to change that this offseason.

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