Derek Carr Resurgence Helps Raiders To Victory Over Cowboys
After a trying six weeks, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr got back to his best with a Thanksgiving win.
Derek Carr had his best passing game since Week 3 (373 yards) in a 36-33 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Raiders have had a rough time lately. They’ve had to deal with the resignation of head coach Jon Gruden due to an email scandal.
As well as that, WR Henry Ruggs was released after he was involved in a fatal car crash. The pressure had been mounting on Derek Carr after a three game losing streak.
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It was a piece of advice from his disgraced former head coach that got Carr out of his funk.
“One thing I’ve tried to do this year, especially when [Ruggs] was here, I was going to be so aggressive,” Carr said. “It leads sometimes to not completing as many balls on a percentage chart, but to me, Gruden used to tell me, ‘Don’t ever take your arm out of a game.’ So when we call these things, let’s rip ’em.”
He also said that starting attacks quickly is vital, and he did just that in finding DeSean Jackson for a 56-yard touchdown on Las Vegas’ third play from scrimmage.
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“We get that touchdown, I look at the scoreboard, OK, 7-0,” Carr said. “I’m excited. I’m an emotional, passionate person, but my mindset literally goes, OK, 7-0. We’ve got to keep going.
“But I can’t exhale during the game, especially with this one, how close it was. We hit that play, it’s exciting … but I can’t exhale. Win or lose, whether it’s going good or bad, I have to stay in the moment.”
