Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons: Studs and Duds from Week 12
Dud: Derek Carr
Derek Carr has been the best player on the team so far this season, as he has led a prolific offense that has been able to put up big numbers against many different defenses so far this season. That is why this past Sunday was such a shocker, as he went up against a terrible pass defense in Atlanta, and could do absolutely nothing.
According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic Carr felt like the week’s practice leading up to this game was “flat.” As a captain, that is on him, and after watching this team falter after a 6-4 start last season, the 2020 campaign is looking eerily similar.
The game on Sunday was the definition of a letdown game, as the Raiders were coming off a huge rivalry game in primetime that came down to one of the last plays of the game. Carr has had a problem holding on to the ball over his career, and this game was when it reared its ugly head.
Three fumbles from any position are inexcusable, but it is even worse when it comes from a seventh-year starting quarterback. He also was under constant pressure all day, but also made terrible decisions to go along with that pressure, with one pass ending up in Deion Jones’ hands for a pick-six.
This is a game for him to forget and move on to next week, because performing the way he did against the Falcons is one thing, to do that against the Jets, would be a different type of embarrassment.