A Taste of Protection for Derek Carr

Derek Carr finally got the protection he was looking for with the return of Trent Brown. He threw six 20-plus-yard passes against the Chiefs.

In the Las Vegas Raiders' 40-32 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, quarterback Derek Carr finally got a taste of something he has been waiting for.

Protection.

With the return of big man right tackle Trent Brown, for the first time this season, Carr had a functional pocket to work with.

With a functional pocket means time to throw deep. It also means Carr can do what he’s good at.

Throwing the ball deep.

Carr had six throws for 20-plus yards and passed for 347 yards. That’s the most he’s had in a game all season.

Early in the first quarter, he threw a 46-yard reception to wide receiver Henry Ruggs III. In the second quarter, he made a 72-yard throw to Ruggs for a touchdown.

Carr threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor in the second quarter as well.

It wasn’t limited to the first half.

In the fourth quarter, on a third and long, Carr threw to wide receiver Hunter Renfrow for a 42-yard gain. Third and Renfrow at it once again. That possession ended with a field goal.

For a quarterback like Carr, who likes to work inside the pocket, protection is everything.

Granted, it wasn’t like the pocket was all of a sudden perfect and had no issues. At times, Carr still had to leave the pocket and either settle for a scramble for a couple of yards or throw the ball away.

Regardless, any time the quarterback can throw the ball 20-plus yards multiple times, that’s a huge win for the offensive line. With the bye week coming up, the Raiders will have a chance to clean up Carr’s protection before they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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