Raiders: Diving into Derek Carr’s 2021 Week 18 performance

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (13) after scoring a touchdown Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. /

Raiders: Diving into Derek Carr’s 2021 Week 18 performance

Carr’s history in big games

To the point of Sunday’s Chargers game, however, Carr’s big-game resume had been extremely limited in my opinion.

He’s had big performances, sure. The two Monday Night Football games where he beat the Saints and Ravens as a big home underdog come to mind, and the Chiefs upset in Kansas City last year is probably in there as well.

But for “big spot games,” which none of those three mentioned really were, the resume may be considered underwhelming.

I think of the Dolphins game last year that ended in disaster, and I won’t revisit the details because they’re too painful for the Raider faithful. I think of the Chiefs game in Vegas last year that ended in a close loss and sent the Raiders into their patented late-season tailspin.

My point is big games, in the career of Derek Carr, had been few and far between. And what he displayed in those big games would not suffice, again in my opinion, for a quarterback to be considered in the top tier of his colleagues.

From my perspective, Raider Nation is pretty split on Derek, and I think his big game prowess, or lack thereof, is a reason why.