Oakland Raiders Week 15 X-Factors against the Jacksonville Jaguars
By Matt Holder
Derek Carr
It comes with the territory of the position, but Carr has faced a lot of criticism during the team’s losing streak. The quarterback hasn’t been playing well as of late and especially after an abysmal performance in Kansas City, many have questioned his status with the team moving forward.
Of course, the receiving core is depleted but the veteran needs to start picking up his teammates and help elevate their play.
Luckily, Jacksonville’s secondary and defense as a whole isn’t what it was in 2017. While the Jaguars only surrender 232 yards in the air per game, that number is misleading because they have played from behind frequently so opponents don’t need to throw the ball. Pro Football Focus, which takes the game situation into account, ranks the team as the fourth-worst in coverage.
With how porous the Jags’ secondary is, another sluggish performance by Carr will heighten the concerns about his franchise quarterback status. The best way for the six-year veteran to end any conversations or doubts about his future is to finish the year strong and that starts on Sunday.