Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders showed up focused in 2021.
So much so, the team is off to a 3-0 start with a Monday night showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers on the schedule this week.
Both teams are battling for AFC West supremacy and whoever wins will maintain a lead over the Kansas City Chiefs early in the year.
Let’s not forget about the 3-0 Denver Broncos either.
Back to the Raiders, all the focus is on Carr and he was recognized for his great play by being named AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
Players of the Month
AFC
Offensee: QB Derek Carr, LV
Defense: Von Miller, DEN
ST: Jamal Agnew, JAXNFC
Offense: WR Cooper Kupp, LAR
Defense: Trevon Diggs, DAL
ST: Mitch Wishnowsky, SFRookies
Offense: Ja’Marr Chase, CIN
Defense: CB Asante Samuel Jr., LAC— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 30, 2021
He deserves that honor and will look to keep it up in October.
His Month Of September
Carr has been on fire and has done all this without running back Josh Jacobs for most of the young season.
Derek Carr passing 20+ yards downfield
🚀 96.2 PFF grade (1st)
🚀 12 completions (1st)
🚀 371 yards (1st) pic.twitter.com/WqFpuNgSYP— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 30, 2021
The Raiders quarterback has two passing touchdowns in all three games, and has gone well over 300 yards in all three as well.
In fact, he is averaging over 400 yards per game with a total of 1,203 yards so far in 2021.
Week 1 was the big showcase as Carr went for 425 yards to take down the Baltimore Ravens in overtime.
He followed that up with a beatdown of Pittsburgh, then took down Miami in another overtime thriller in Week 3.
The Raiders are keeping things interesting, and the play of Carr has been the difference so far.
400 yards per game over a 17-game season means a final tally of 6,800 yards.
Now that is likely not going to happen.
But his first 5,000-yard season?
That should come easily if he plays just close to his current level throughout the year.
Shutting Down Rumors
Carr and the Raiders entered 2021 with a lot to prove.
The team had not gotten much better under Jon Gruden and Carr took a lot of the blame for that.
Going 8-8 last season at least helped fight off any wild talk of crazy changes.
Yet rumors floated all offseason about the Raiders targeting a big-name quarterback and having Marcus Mariota on a significant backup deal was another statement in itself.
Carr playing at an MVP level changes it all and could mark the peak of his career at age 30.
We all have to pump the brakes a bit because the Raiders are no stranger to a hot start.
The team started 6-3 in 2020, only to finish 8-8.
So we have seen this story before.
The difference now is the way Carr is lighting up opposing defenses.
At some point, he is going to have a bad game.
But until then, Raiders fans should be thrilled at what they are seeing and enjoy the ride.
Moving to Las Vegas could be the best thing to ever happen to this franchise.
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