Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos: 3 Raiders to watch in Week 16

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98, free safety Trevon Moehrig #25, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #77 and outside linebacker K.J. Wright #34 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field following the team's 17-15 loss to the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 05: Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98, free safety Trevon Moehrig #25, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson #77 and outside linebacker K.J. Wright #34 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field following the team's 17-15 loss to the Washington Football Team at Allegiant Stadium on December 5, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 20: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders throws the ball in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 20, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders vs Denver Broncos: 3 Raiders to watch in Week 16

Derek Carr

We avoided discussing Carr being a Raider to watch last week, but we can’t dismiss the value of the quarterback this week. The Raiders will always only go as far as their captain leads them, and he will be needed more than ever in this clash.

Carr embarrassed the Broncos’ defense earlier this season almost passing for 350 yards. and these kinds of numbers will be needed to stave off this Broncos team, who are also hell-bent on garnering a playoff berth.

The eight-year starter has not been impressive in this second half, and the world over knows this scenario by now.

The running game of the Raiders has been extinct for the entirety of this season basically, so the quarterback will be needed in high volumes to throw on this defense if the Raiders have any shot at rising above the .500 mark, and marching toward their first playoff appearance since 2016.

Watch out for the Raider captain, he will be either the reason the Silver and Black continue their improbable march towards a playoff berth, or he will be the key reason the Raiders return to familiarity and miss out once again in getting to the playoffs.