The Las Vegas Raiders are 6-3 in 2020.
A large reason for their success is QB Derek Carr who is perhaps one of the most underrated QBs in the NFL.
Coach Jon Gruden recently lauded his QB’s skills:
“He’s all business. He’s on a mission right now to prove that he can be one of the top, if not the best, in football. That’s what he’s after.”
"He's on a mission right now." #Raiders pic.twitter.com/dFCWHV04QE
— Raider Posts (@RaiderPosts) November 18, 2020
Carr in 2020
Despite a tough schedule, Carr has been instrumental in keeping the Raiders in games and making smart plays to move the chains for the Raiders offense.
“I get more joy out of that sometimes than some of the touchdowns. I’ll come to the sideline and start getting fired up with (offensive line) coach (Tom) Cable about it, and so I’m just here to do my job at the highest level I can and I’m planning on doing that all the time at a very high level. And I hold myself to a standard sometimes that it’s hard to achieve but when you do achieve it, you know you’re on the right track.”
He mentioned how he watched Peyton Manning take control of games with the Colts and Broncos over his career.
Carr is grateful to be able to do that too.
“It’s a cool feeling for me to be able to do that kind of stuff as well at this point in my career.”
In 9 games, he has thrown for 2,156 yards and 16 TDs.
He has only thrown 2 INTs this season.
Gruden/Carr History Prior to 2020 Season
Ever since Jon Gruden became the Raiders’ head coach in 2018, there was speculation that he would be interested in ousting Carr.
Those rumors became more prevalent shortly at the end of the 2019 season.
In December 2019, an unnamed source allegedly in Gruden’s inner circle told CBS Sports:
“I don’t believe Jon sees enough high-end upside there, and at this point you would have to think Carr is what he is.”
It is true that Gruden prefers a gunslinger or big play QB, and Carr does not really fit that bill.
At the time, it was believed that GM Mike Mayock and Gruden would be considering an upgrade in the QB position via draft or free agent.
Carr barely acknowledged the rumors when asked about his future with the Raiders late last year.
“We’ll see when that time comes. They’re probably sick of us talking about it, just like I am. I had some good meetings with my coaches. And I’m looking forward to Las Vegas.”
In the middle of all this media awkwardness, we learned via retired player/NFL Network analyst David Carr (Derrick’s brother) that Derrick Carr built a home next to Gruden’s in Las Vegas.
Raiders vs. Chiefs
QB Derrick Carr will need to use all the tricks in his toolbox for his Raiders to beat the Kansas City Chiefs for a second time this season in Week 11.
The Raiders are the only team to defeat the Chiefs this season; they beat them in KC in Week 5.
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