Las Vegas Raiders: Studs and Duds from Week 1 vs. Ravens
Studs
1. Derek Carr’s late-game heroics
Things didn’t start off well for Derek Carr as he struggled to connect with his receivers and do much of anything as the Raiders went down 14-0. He seemed to be forcing things to Darren Waller and he could not connect with any of his other receivers. He got things rolling in the second quarter and rallied the team to within four by halftime thanks to a timely fourth-down stop by KJ Wright.
The real fireworks for Carr and the reason he is on the studs list are because of his play in the fourth quarter and overtime. Carr was lights out as he started finding Waller and involving his other receivers and he really earned his game check with his heroics in the game-tying drive at the end of regulation.
It was pitch-perfect clock management on display from the veteran QB as the Raiders marched down the field to set up Daniel Carlson’s game-tying field goal.
Carr’s heroics continued into overtime, as he found Bryan Edwards on an absurd throw off his back foot but a questionable hard count at the goal line and throw that lacked touch to Willie Snead threatened to derail all of it. In the end, he came through with the game-winning play and it was well-deserved considering his role in the comeback and near-win on the first drive of OT.
This level of play and “comeback kid” quality is nothing new for Raiders fans but it was great to see it on display on national television against a quality opponent. Carr threw for the third-most yards in his career with 453 and third-highest attempts with 56 despite the initial struggles.
Maybe he was too excited about playing in front of the Las Vegas fans for the first time but he settled down and delivered when it mattered most.