| Advertisement |
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Derek Carr attempts to take the next step in his development Sunday night when the Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos. Carr has been many things as a quarterback since becoming an instant starter in 2014, most of them good.
Advertisement
Forty games into his career, Carr has 70 touchdown passes and 28 interceptions, establishing himself as the Raiders quarterback for years to come.
In Year 3, Carr has guided the Raiders to a 6-2 record with a fan base clamoring for its first playoff experience 2002. He is coming off a franchise record 513-yard performance with four touchdown passes, throwing the ball 59 times in an overtime game without an interception.
Carr is even getting some support as a Most Valuable Player candidate in various midseason reports throughout the country. As far as MVP talk, Carr is putting his blinders on.
"I would rather not hear anything," Carr said. "I would rather go about my business and hang out with my family, to be honest. It's part of the business.
"Trust me, I'm very honored and thankful. At this point in the year, it's cool, but it's not for me."
Having met or exceeded every challenge since arriving as a second-round draft pick out of Fresno State, Carr attempts to step up a level as the Raiders enter the second half of the season.
The schedule gets tougher, starting with five-time AFC West division champion and defending Super Bowl winner Denver.
And when it comes to the Broncos, Carr has had his issues.
The Raiders play the Broncos on Sunday and again in the season finale, and their playoff hopes could rest with Carr excelling against a team he has struggled against.
In four games against the Broncos, Carr's numbers aren't nearly what they are against the rest of the NFL. He has completed 57 percent of his passes (86 of 151) for 734 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.
The Raiders are 1-3 in those games and Carr's passer rating is 72.0, as opposed to his career mark of 87.4.
Carr's only victory against Denver came last Dec. 15, a 15-12 win in which Carr was 12 of 29 for 135 yards and teammate Khalil Mack sacked opposing quarterback Brock Osweiler five times.
To his credit, Carr did stick two throws into the end zone for touchdowns on red zone trips, 11 yards to Seth Roberts and 16 yards to Mychal Rivera.
Teammates aren't interested in hearing how important it is for Carr to take another step in his development, believing he is already among the elite.
"I've been telling you about Derek since I met him, y'all just believing me now," left tackle Donald Penn said. "Every time you ask me, I smile and light up.
"The guy's special and he's showing it. Keep talking about everyone else. We like it. Keep talking about all those other quarterbacks. We're just going to sneak in."
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio's focus is on his quarterback developing week to week, without stopping to rate his performances game to game.
"I don't care to make any proclamations if he had his best game, his third best game, it doesn't matter to me" Del Rio said. "We just want Derek to go out and be himself, play good football and help our team win.
"I'm very happy with the way he's shown the ability to bring us back. Crunch time, clutch time you've got to have it. He's been money and that's been big for us."
SERIES HISTORY: 112th meeting, Raiders lead all-time series 60-49-2. Raiders won last meeting 15-12 in Denver on Dec. 13, 2015, with Khalil Mack getting five sacks and Derek Carr throwing two touchdown passes. The Broncos won the last game at the Coliseum 16-10 on the strength of a 74-yard interception return by Chris Harris and three field goals by Brandon McManus. The Broncos have won eight of the last nine meetings.
--Usually on the air only for prime time games as the part of doubleheaders while at home, the Raiders will host Denver as the only game on the air Sunday night.
Coach Jack Del Rio is happy for the exposure for what it represents, even if the Raiders coach won't treat it any differently.
"I think what we recognize as an organization is as you become relevant, as you play good football, you're going to have more of these opportunities," Del Rio said. "This is the natural progression of building a good team. We should expect to be in these games. We're going to expect to win these games. Then we're going to move forward and have more of these kinds of games."
--Tight end Mychal Rivera, a key component of the Raiders' offense for the last three seasons, rejoined the passing game with three catches for 36 yards against the Buccaneers. Included was a 27-yard catch on a seam route in the first quarter and a 7-yard touchdown reception from Carr to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Rivera, the subject of trade talk during training camp, was inactive for the first three games of the season. He didn't get a chance to play until tight ends Lee Smith and Clive Walford were injured.
"It was the coach's decision and you have to respect that as a player," Rivera said. "The situation definitely humbled me and it taught me a lot. I benefited a lot from it in a lot of personal ways."
Rivera said the situation taught him about faith and patience.
"It was just a whole lot of things that are very unexplainable," Rivera said. "I feel like God has a plan. If you work your tail off and come to work every day, good things are going to happen. And they're going to happen when they're supposed to happen."
--Wide receiver Seth Roberts had considering speaking up, but waited until overtime against Tampa Bay to tell Carr he would be open for business.
"Throw it to me, let's just make it happen, get it over with, and go home with that 'W,'" Roberts said.
Given Roberts' brief history as the slot receiver, Carr had the right idea. In two seasons, Roberts has scored nine touchdowns in eight games and the Raiders have won all those games.
"I just felt I could beat those guys out there," Roberts said. "We were ready to put it away, come back to the Bay and get ready for Denver."
NOTES: CB Sean Smith did not practice because of a shoulder injury sustained last Sunday in Jacksonville and could miss the game against Denver. ... DT Stacy McGee did not practice Wednesday and his status for the Denver game is unknown. ... DE Mario Edwards has not begun practicing yet, rehabbing from a hip injury which put him on injured reserve. ... T Donald Penn had a 1-yard touchdown reception against Tampa Bay, his fourth touchdown catch as an eligible receiver on a goal line play. ... K Sebastian Janikowski missed field goal attempts of 50 and 52 yards against Tampa, giving him 45 misses from 50 or more as opposed to an NFL record 55 made field goals.
