Could Sunday night determine Derek Carr’s future with the Raiders?
Could Sunday night determine Derek Carr’s future with the Raiders?
2021 and the future
This season felt different. The talent was as good as the team had ever surrounded Carr with. He had a creative play-caller, top-flight weapons, and finally, a good defense. The defense has exceeded expectations and resembles the best defense in over a decade, but then everything else happened.
When Carr lost his coach and No. 1 receiver, the offense stumbled while the defense shined. Now, with a chance to win and go to the playoffs for the first time in his career, the pressure is on Carr.
It’s no secret that the Raiders are likely to make changes this season. Owner Mark Davis is known to not be a huge fan of Carr and the loss of Gruden likely put Carr’s job in major jeopardy, however, he has kept the team afloat.
He has been an exemplary leader and is having the best season of his career. However, the Raiders face a challenge on Sunday night and the Raiders need Carr to show up. The Raiders have survived beating poor quarterbacks, but now they verse a division rival stud quarterback.
Carr needs to play well to lead his team to the playoffs. No more excuses. This season was always playoffs or bust for Carr, and he’s navigated a difficult season to make it to this point. Much of the national media is already praising Carr, but it should be put on hold.
Carr needs to win Sunday to quiet all the doubts.
This is a game the team has typically lost under Carr, but this is the biggest game of his career and the biggest for the Raiders franchise in ten years. If Carr wins and leads this team to the playoffs, despite all of the distractions, losses, and tragedies, he is the franchise quarterback and should be extended. If he loses, it’s time to move on, for both the Raiders and Carr.