Raiders QB Derek Carr entering the most crucial stretch of his NFL career

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Dec 5, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is flushed out of the pocket during the second quarter against the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Raiders QB Derek Carr entering the most crucial stretch of his NFL career

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, the Raiders have three games left in the 2021 NFL season, including two home games against division rivals Denver and Los Angeles. Those games are sandwiched around a huge road matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, so to say this is a crucial three-game stretch would be an understatement.

For Carr, he has a chance to not only rid himself of all the criticism of him not being able to win games for this team but also do it against quality competition. The Chargers are a team that many like to go a long way in the AFC this season, while the Colts have the kind of roster that can make a deep run through January as well.

Denver is another story, as they will be without Teddy Bridgewater on Sunday, and will instead turn to Drew Lock, who has not had much success against the Raiders. All told, these games are tough, but winnable, though it will take more of what we saw from Carr on the first and last drive in Cleveland to come out on top.

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