Las Vegas Raiders: 4 bold predictions after the 2021 bye week

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Oct 17, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Las Vegas Raiders: 4 bold predictions after the 2021 bye week

No. 2: Derek Carr continues to shine, finishes top 3 in the MVP race

Derek Carr is playing like a top-5 NFL quarterback thus far this season. Carr came out of the gates on fire, leading the Raiders to a 3-0 start, with at least 350 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in each of those games.

Carr has been equally impressive off the field in the wake of Jon Gruden’s resignation, becoming the unequivocal leader of the franchise. Since Gruden resigned, the Raiders are 2-0 and the star quarterback has thrown for 664 yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception.

The Raiders’ signal-caller has shown that he can get it done in any way that is asked of him. In Week 1, he targeted star tight-end, Darren Waller, an unprecedented 19 times and the Raiders won. In Week 7, with Waller sidelined, Carr didn’t miss a beat, either, completing 91.4% of his passes as the Raiders dominated the Eagles.

Carr has dealt with just about everything that one could think of as the quarterback of the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders over the past eight years, yet has kept his head down and stayed laser-focused on his goal of resurrecting the Raiders’ franchise. Carr is not slowing down. He is motivated and is throwing the ball with more confidence than ever before. As it all comes together for him this season, he deserves his flowers.

And he will get them, in the form of finishing top-3 in the NFL MVP race., possibly even taking it home.

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