Raiders QB Derek Carr is out to make a statement during the 2020 NFL season, and he got off to a fast start in Week 1. Here are 3 things we learned.
Derek Carr made sure the league knew he was playing a few weeks ago stating he was “tired of being disrespected” when asked if he ever thought about opting out. In Week 1, Carr showed the league he was ready to take the Raiders to the next level, and showed what he can do with the right weapon set.
Carr made sure he proved all the doubters wrong this week, as he led the Raiders to an upset win in Carolina in an empty stadium due to COVID-19. The Raiders quarterback is showing why the coaching staff is behind him, and the addition of Marcus Mariota is proving to push the starter to be better.
Leading the team to a 34-30 victory, Carr threw one touchdown and just under 250 yards with a nearly 80% completion percentage. Carr looked to be in sync with the receivers despite the odd offseason, where limited condition and padded practices could’ve been disastrous for a group of young wideouts.
Carr made sure to get every offensive player involved as Darren Waller led the team with six catches for 45 yards, and rookie Henry Ruggs III made plays in the passing game with three catches for 55 yards, and the running game with two rushes for 11 yards. The newly-signed Nelson Agholor caught the lone touchdown pass from Carr on a dime to the corner of the endzone for 23 yards.
Last year’s standout rookie receiver, Hunter Renfrow, made his presence known too, catching two passes for 21 yards. The other rookie, Bryan Edwards, and veteran tight end Jason Witten both caught one pass for 9 yards and two yards, respectively.
Overall, it was a great day for Carr, and the Raiders, and here are three things we learned Sunday.
3 Things we learned about Derek Carr in the Raiders win in Week 1
Derek Carr is the perfect fit for this Raiders offense
In the offseason, there was talk about the Raiders moving on from Carr, and some even called for Mariota to get the starting role. However, Carr took command of the team this summer, and it his preparation was clear on Sunday, as he led them when they needed leading and found the open man putting up 34 points.
Last season, the Raiders scored over 30 points only twice, and never did they score 34. Carr looked like a veteran quarterback against Carolina, and looked like he was ready to take this team into the playoffs.
I’ve always said that a mark of a good team is winning close games against good to average teams, and beating up on bad teams. Carolina isn’t a good team, but last season, the Raiders lost close games like this when they needed the win. If anything was learned from last season, every win is needed when you’re in the same division as the Kansas City Chiefs.
3 Things we learned about Derek Carr in the Raiders win in Week 1
Carr can win games with the right weapons
Last season, Tyrell Williams had an injury plagued year, forcing Waller to be the lead receiver. To be fair, Antonio Brown was supposed to be on the field, but never was, forcing Williams to assume WR1 duties.
This season, the Raiders made sure to add weapons and speed, something they lacked last year, and we saw glimpses of that on Sunday. A deep threat was never really a big concern for defenses, but now it will be, as Ruggs is extremely fast, and held the safeties in check all game long.
This helped open up holes for the running game and Josh Jacobs to score three touchdowns on the day.
The argument from Carr supporters has always been “give him the right weapons and he will be elite.” This is proving true, as he completed nearly 80% of his passes, and took command of this team. After Sunday, I don’t know how you can’t say he the leader of this offense and the team.
Carr’s quarterback rating was over 100, and he made very few mistakes, and didn’t make throws that the defense could intercept or knock down.
3 Things we learned about Derek Carr in the Raiders win in Week 1
Carr is demanding respect
Derek Carr came out with a vengeance in Week 1 and had a chip on his shoulder. All offseason he’s heard Raiders fans calling for his head, and for the newly-signed Mariota to be thrust into the starting role, despite the terrible seasons he’s had in Tennessee.
Carr looked every bit the part of a franchise quarterback in Week 1, leading the team to a victory on the road, a place where the Raiders struggled to put up points last season. In addition, it is never easy to go to the East Coast and win games, and while the defense struggled to get stops early on, Carr continued to lead his offense down the field and into scoring opportunities.
You just felt Carr came out with something to prove, and he did it. The Raiders held their own, leading in time of possession, and giving their defense time to relax. The seventh-year starter came into this season ready to show the NFL who he was, and to prove that he should be the man in Las Vegas moving forward, and for at least one Week 1, he did just that.