Derek Carr is still the man… For now…
Make no mistake, this is still Derek Carr’s team, for now, as he’s been adequate all year maintaining a 102.0 passer rating. Despite suffering a groin injury against the Chargers, he practiced on Wednesday per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, which is a good indicator of someone’s availability for that week.
More than likely he’ll get the start on Saturday barring him reaggravating his injury, and he still gives the Raiders the best chance to win, if he is healthy. However, Raider Nation has now seen a sample of what Mariota can bring to the table, and while maybe he won’t be as efficient or calculating as Carr, Mariota will make things happen as he did last week.
And judging from fans’ reaction, this notion gets them excited.
Context is important though, Mariota came in place of Carr after his injury, meaning Anthony Lynn’s team wasn’t prepared for him. How would Mariota perform with defenses zeroing in on him week in and out? We do not know, but we do know that Mariota looked like an NFL quarterback Thursday night, and that is good for the Raiders no matter how you look at it.