Las Vegas Raiders 2020 Week 11 review: Studs and Duds
Las Vegas Raiders 2020 Week 11 review: Studs and Duds
Studs
Derek Carr
Derek Carr came through for his team on Sunday with an incredible performance that nearly topped his Week 5 performance which was one of the best of his career. Carr finished the game with 275 yards and 3 touchdowns with the only blemish an interception in the last drive of the game when the outcome was already decided.
Of Carr’s eight incompletions, four were throws that hit his receivers right in the hands and should have been caught which would have taken his completion percentage to an absurd 87% on the night. Carr is proving to the haters that he is an elite QB and anyone that questioned his ability to be the Raiders’ franchise quarterback is eating a big helping of crow right now.
Darren Waller
Darren Waller came through with another great performance and one of his best on the season with 7 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders star tight end was a menace to the KC defense all night long and kept several drives alive with his ability to gain yards after the catch. Waller is establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in the NFL and given the health issues of players like George Kittle and Zach Ertz, has a strong case as the best player at his position other than Travis Kelce.
Waller’s rare combination of size and speed makes him a matchup nightmare and he is able to make plays all over the field. He is not getting the same yardage totals as he did in 2019 but Waller is still on pace for nearly 100 catches and 8 touchdowns which would both be career highs.
The offensive line’s pass protection
LT Kolton Miller made his return to the Raiders’ starting lineup and that made all the difference in the world as it allowed Brandon Parker to move back to RT and keep Sam Young off the field. The Raiders struggled with pass protection against Denver and Los Angeles with Miller out with an injury but they had no such problems in Week 11.
Next. Kansas City Chiefs at Las Vegas Raiders: 3 things we learned in Week 11. dark
Against a Chiefs defense with 19 sacks in 9 games coming in, the Raiders offensive line nearly shut them out in every category as they registered no sacks and just one QB hit. They kept Chris Jones and the rest of the defensive line off Derek Carr and let him sit back and carve up the defense. This unit, when Miller is healthy, is among the best in the NFL at pass protection and will only be stronger whenever Trent Brown returns from his lengthy absence.