Answering Your Las Vegas Raiders Questions Week 5
Henderson, Nev. – Each week at Sports Illustrated’s Raider Maven, we take time to answer the questions and emails of Raider Nation.
So after a gut-wrenching 30-23 loss, here we go.
Hondo, I know you said all summer, and even this week, you thought the Raiders would win. What surprised you most in the loss? Jeff Conley
I understand that there is always a drop off from your first and second-team players. It is natural, so when injuries deplete you, you have to expect a lower play standard. Some drop off is understandable. Rookie mistakes are understandable. But when you aren’t a rookie and the drop is as dramatic as it was in some cases, it is unacceptable. Some guys made some terrible mental mistakes.
Hondo, when you were sitting in the press box watching the game, did anything good stand out to you? Mike Perez
I reference in the above question about drop off. Jason Witten is the third-string tight end, but a proven and savvy veteran. He played exceptionally well. The tight end position is so strong for the Raiders, and he played outstanding.
Hondo, what do you think of the “Carr Sucks” group.Tess Hurst
When I first started covering the Raiders, I had an interesting experience.
A member of Raider and NFL royalty told me: “We have the best fans in the NFL. They are more passionate than anyone. But that means when things are going really good or bad, that emotion has to be let off somewhere. Just recognize it.” I now understand.
Derek plays the most visible and important position. He gets so much credit and blame. He isn’t dumb. He understands that it is part of the position. I can tell you that there is NO ONE more frustrated right now in Raider Nation than Derek Carr.
Has he played four mistake-proof ball games? No, and neither has anyone else. What he has done is play excellent football at a very high level. He has thrown no interceptions. Stop and dwell on that for a minute. Three fumbles were from fighting to get out of the end zone to avoid a safety when the game was out of hand and a pitch to a running back who was out of position, and he never touched it. Because the running back never touched it, it was a Derek Carr fumble, but it wasn’t really his.
As previously stated, I understand the fans are upset, but blaming this in any way on Carr is foolish. I can tell you that if Marcus Mariota were the quarterback, they would be 0-4.
Hondo, I am nervous. You said all summer that you thought they would lose to the KC Chiefs.Still feel that way for Sunday, and they end up at 2-3? Karen Hall
Yes, I do. 2-3 is not the end of the world. They will need to get an upset along the way now to get to 10 wins, which I predicted. But I highly doubt it comes this week.
Hondo, you are a fat Derek Carr apologist. He sucks and should be benched. Josh Allen made him look stupid. Alex Schut
I hate to let facts interfere with the argument you make, but when you say Josh Allen made Derek Carr look like a fool, I would say the reality is that the facts make you look foolish.
Josh Allen: 24/34 Passing 288 Yards 2 TD Passes 0 Interceptions 115.8 QBR 3 Rushes for -1 Yard
Derek Carr: 32/44 Passing 311 Yards 2 TD Passes 0 Interceptions 107.3 QBR 4 Rushes 20 Yards
There you go, everyone. Our weekly question and answer article. Do you have your own? Please send them to me at SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com, and thank you all so much.
How to watch or listen to the Las Vegas Raiders versus the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday?
Radio: Raider Nation Radio
Odds: (Not Yet Available)
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