Quarterback Derek Carr's Five Best Games as a Raider

Quarterback Derek Carr led the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders to some big victories behind heroic performances.

Derek Carr was behind the center for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders for nine seasons.

During that time, he saw only two playoff games, including one that Carr missed due to a season-ending broken-fibula injury sustained on Christmas Eve of 2016.

Even so, the Raiders' all-time leading passer guided the Silver and Black to some memorable victories during his time with the franchise.

Here are the top-five games of Carr's career with the Silver and Black:

5. Raiders vs. New York Jets, Week 13, 2020-21

This wasn't exactly the prettiest performance on Carr's part, but it was the epitome of his never-give-up attitude and determination, qualities that fit right in with the Raiders.

Down. 28-24, with under 2 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, having been given a number of opportunities to take the lead, the Raiders could not execute as Carr threw an incomplete pass to the end zone on fourth-and-three.

Las Vegas managed to force the Jets to punt, leaving itself with less than a minute at one last shot.

With 35 seconds to go, Carr and the Raiders' offense faced more than 60 yards to march down the field. 

A few plays into the final drive, facing third-and-10 just across midfield, Carr found former Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III for a 46-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory.

The veteran quarterback finished the game with 381 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 97.9.

FINAL SCORE: 31-28

4. Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns, Week 4, 2018-19

Carr played out of his mind in this game.

After starting the season 0-3, the Raiders were looking to get on track with a home win over Cleveland.

Down by eight with just under two minutes to go in regulation time, the Raiders looked to score on fourth-and-eight in the Red Zone.

Much like the Jets game, the Raiders couldn't convert but ended up getting the ball back after stopping the Browns on third-and-two.

Carr and the offense had a little less than half a field to march with under a minute remaining. He led them all the way to the seven-yard line and connected with former Raiders tight end Jared Cook in the end zone to bring the team within two points.

Then Carr threw a fade to former Raiders wide receiver Jordy Nelson in the end zone to execute the two-point conversion that would force overtime.

After a halted Raiders possession to start overtime was followed by a failed Browns response, which put the ball back in the home team's hands to win it with a field goal. They did exactly that.

Carr wound up with 437 passing yards and four touchdowns that day with a quarterback rating of 92.4.

FINAL: 45-42

3. Raiders vs. Baltimore Ravens, Week 1, 2021-22

This game was Carr's most recent game on this list.

Down, 14-0, early in the second quarter, it looked as though the Raiders' season was bound for a rough start.

But Las Vegas kept coming back at Baltimore and, eventually, found themselves all tied at 24-24 with just under four minutes to go in the game quarter.

Baltimore would take the lead with a field goal with only 37 seconds remaining. 

But with three-quarters of a field ahead of them, Carr and the Raiders' offense progressed to the opposite 45-yard line to set Daniel Carlson up for the game-tying kick.

Carlson drilled it from 55 yards and the game went overtime.

The Ravens would pick off Carr's pass on Las Vegas' opening drive of overtime, but then turned the ball over themselves when former Raider defensive end Carl Nassib strip-sacked Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at Baltimore's 27-yard line.

Carr would find former Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones for a 31-yard game-winning touchdown pass.

The quarterback finished with 435 yards and two touchdowns in the epic Monday Night Football showdown.

FINAL: 33-27

2. Raiders vs. Chiefs, Week 7, 2017-18

After dropping three straight games to fall to .500 to start the season, the Raiders needed a win badly, and none would have been better than against their biggest rival.

It didn't look promising, though, as Kansas City held a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Raiders could only manage a field goal leading up to the game's final minutes. They needed a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining, but would have to march from their own 15-yard line.

After an offensive pass interference call, the Raiders were faced with second-and-20, having only gained five yards to start the drive.

But Carr found former Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 39-yard gain that put the offense in enemy territory.

The offense would eventually face a fourth-and-11 situation with the game on the line and 42 yards to go.

But Carr did it again, connecting with Cook to advance 13 yards.

The offense would march down to the two-yard line but could not execute as time expired. But the Raiders were given life with a defensive holding call that allowed them one last play to seal it.

Carr then threw to former Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree for the game-tying touchdown.

The Raiders made the extra point to win the game and complete an incredible fourth-quarter comeback.

Carr finished the game with 417 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 101.2.

FINAL: 31-30

1. Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Week 6, 2016

This was the game that ignited the mentions of Carr's name in the Most Valuable Player conversation.

Not only was it a career game for Carr on the stat sheet, but it was also one of the most clutch performances in his tenure as a Raider.

Down a touchdown on the road with under four minutes remaining in regulation, Carr led the Raiders on a nine-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game and eventually force overtime.

A back-and-forth affair in overtime eventually led to Carr and the Raiders having the ball on their own 40-yard line with less than three and a half minutes to go.

They could only muster 19 yards before facing a fourth-and-three situation with 41 yards to go.

On the game's final play, Carr found former Raiders wide receiver Seth Roberts up the middle, who proceeded to run for the game-winning 41-yard touchdown.

Carr ended up with a career-high 513 yards on 40 completions and four touchdowns. He posted a quarterback rating of 117.4.

FINAL: 30-24

The NFL Scouting Combine is Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. On March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. During the time starting at 12 p.m. EST on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EST on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EST on March 15.

The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EST on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free agent market this season.

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