Las Vegas Raiders X-Factors against the Denver Broncos in Week 16

Las Vegas Raiders X-Factors against the Denver Broncos in Week 16

Derek Carr

Let’s lead off with the captain of this offense and team for that matter. The quarterback has been an up-and-down candidate for nearly the entirety of the second half of this season.

When dating back to the first half of the season, the quarterback was the talk of Raider Nation and football fans the world over — in a good way for once. The eight-year starter has had his obstacles, but this finally seemed like the season everything was in place for him to show he was an elite quarterback.

Whether circumstances surrounding this team or his own play have been in charge of his second-half woes, he is a major key to this team’s hopes of reaching the playoffs.

Against the Broncos in their last meeting this season, Carr torched the secondary, and easily led the Raiders to victory. However, this was before the Week 8 bye when the Raiders were still in charge of the lead in the AFC West.

Since the dreaded return from the bye, Carr has only topped 300 yards once, and his numbers as a whole have been a far cry from his dazzling first-half displays.

For the Silver and Black to win this game against a middling Denver team, Carr will be the biggest piece in a win or loss. And with a non-existent run game, he will have to drive this offense nearly at all times. Carr will always be the biggest X-Factor in a win or loss, but now more than ever.