Derek Carr's Terrific Play Silences His Obnoxious Critics
Henderson, Nev. – That explosion you heard coming from Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday was more than just a Las Vegas Raiders victory over their AFC West rival the Kansas City Chiefs.
In a 40-32 upset of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, Derek Carr delivered an explosion of silence from his most boisterous critics, ranging from click-bait media members looking for cheap web hits to folks whose extensive knowledge of the quarterback position comes from playing Madden.
That is what the elite do.
In took five games for Carr to throw an interception, and only then on a risk his legendary coach signed off on. Carr played his position like a maestro in front of the world's most talented symphony, outplaying the young man that many regard as the best quarterback in the league.
That is what the elite do.
Without a full complement of players -- four starters (Maliek Collins, Damon Arnette, Richie Incognito, and Bryan Edwards) were missing Sunday -- Carr opened his refrigerator of teammates and put together a five-star meal without a full complement of ingredients.
That is what the elite do.
"He's (Derek Carr) the biggest reason I think we have a chance to do it," was what Jon Gruden said last week before the game.
Gruden and Carr had to listen to offseason chatter of how the coach was not sold on his quarterback. Complete balderdash to anyone who knows Gruden. But why should the truth ruin a good story?
All Carr has done is perform with what he has around him. It wasn't his fault that his top three wide receivers have been hurt or that he was without three starting offensive linemen.
That is what the elite do.
Sports Illustrated's Raider Maven wrote all offseason how Carr couldn't throw, block, and catch on the same play. Rumors flew of how Marcus Mariota was going to take Carr's job, while we told you, in our opinion, he wasn't even the second-best quarterback on the team.
That was based on watching training camp, not simply ill-informed opinion.
But Carr has something that isn't normally recognizable in today's modern America. Character. He didn't flip off the crowd or blow off the media. Instead, with a slight southern twang (even though he is a California kid), he charmingly talked with the media.
Carr handled his success much like he does his setbacks, with class.
That is what the elite do.
Accountability is something Carr preaches. He also lives it. He knows that every word he says is parsed and dissected as the face of a multi-billion dollar franchise.
That is what the elite do.
Carr held his teammates accountable over a loss to the Buffalo Bills in a game that the Raiders believe should have won.
"When you have that (cccountability), at least it gives you a chance to do things the right way,” Carr said. “At least it gives you a chance because I've been on some teams here in the past where there was none of that, and it just went haywire. At least it gives you a fighting chance when you have guys that will own up to it and say, 'Hey, this is what I need to do, myself included.' And then you show your teammates that you're working on it at practice."
That is what the elite do.
Carr's teammates did what most do to an elite leader; they responded. Carr's leadership paid off.
I predicted before the season that the Raiders would go 10-6 and make the playoffs. I also predicted that two of those losses would come at the hands of the Chiefs. Not because the Raiders didn't have talent, but they were young, and those young players had to learn to win.
With so many injuries, I didn't think the Raiders had much of a chance on Sunday. But I said all week on Kansas City Radio that the Raiders were coming.
When the hosts asked me about Derek Carr, I was vociferous that he was the answer and not the problem. They scoffed, but on Sunday, the nation saw something.
In a game that the Raiders shouldn't have won, their elite quarterback put the Silver and Black on his back and carried them to a win. Derek Carr didn't just lead the Raiders to a victory -- he took them to a place they hadn't been.
On the road, against the world champions, Derek Carr silenced his critics by willing his team to a win.
That is what the elite do.
Earlier this season, Derek Carr broke Ken Stabler's career touchdown passing record. On Sunday, he clearly staked his claim as an elite quarterback in the NFL.
That win was big for the Raiders and important to the fans. But to Derek Carr, it was defining and a statement. Just don't expect him to tell you that, he's too busy working.
That is what the elite do.
Derek Carr shut the mouths of his critics, and thankfully for them, he isn't going to rub their nose in it.
That is what the elite do.
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