Derek Carr has been the Raiders quarterback for eight seasons, but Sunday night could determine his future with the organization.
Coming into this season, the Raiders had only achieved a winning season twice in 18 years. Since former MVP and Raiders great quarterback Rich Gannon retired following injury-riddled seasons, the Raiders have shuffled through countless failed potential franchise, stopgaps, journeymen, rookie, or underwhelming quarterbacks.
From Marques Tuiasosopo, Kerry Collins, and Andrew Walter to Dante Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, and Jamarcus Russel, poor quarterback play was the constant. Josh McCown, Carson Palmer, Jason Campbell, Matt Flynn, Matt Schaub, Matt McGloin, and Terrelle Pryor all represent an era of disappointment, frustration, and sadness.
When the Raiders drafted Derek Carr in the second round of the 2014 NFL drafts, there was cautious optimism, but the truth is, the Raiders had been failing him.
Carr immediately won the starting quarterback job and subsequently led a rebuilding and yet again a disappointing team to an 0-10 start. There were very few bright spots up until Week 12 against a playoff-bound Kansas City Chiefs team.
Carr had played well, Khalil Mack was productive without the numbers, Gabe Jackson showed promise, but the team still had so many issues. The poorly built 2014 Oakland Raiders could have laid over and got pummelled by the Chiefs on a rainy Thursday night, but the team was resilient and Carr got his first career win.