Derek Carr Vs. 2023 Saints Opponents

A look back at how new Saints QB Derek Carr has fared against the 2023 New Orleans opponents.

Unless you've just arrived on planet Earth, then you've known for months that the New Orleans Saints will have a new starting quarterback in 2023. Derek Carr was signed to a five-year contract by New Orleans with $100 million in guaranteed money after his release from the Raiders. Carr will be the sixth different quarterback to start for the team since Drew Brees retired after the 2020 campaign.

The 32-year-old Carr was a second-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders out of Fresno State in 2014. He was chosen by then-Oakland coach Dennis Allen, now head coach of New Orleans. Carr played all nine of his years with the Raiders, missing only one game because of injury. He's completed 64.6% of his passes for 35,222 yards with 217 touchdowns and 99 interceptions.

Most of Carr's starts have obviously been against the AFC. He has a 13-24 record against NFC teams, completing 66.3% of his throws for 9,014 yards with 49 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. 

Outside of the Raiders, Carr has faced the other 31 NFL teams at least twice over his career. Here are Carr's career results against the teams he'll face on the New Orleans schedule in 2023.

Sep 25, 2022; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws the ball against the Tennessee Titans. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY

vs. Tennessee Titans 

• • 3-2 record

• 64.8% completion percentage 

• 1,406 yards

• 10 touchdowns 

• 2 interceptions 

• two 300-yard games

Barring injury, Carr's first start as a Saint will come at home against the Titans to open the year.

One of Carr's best games in his final season with the Raiders came at Tennessee in Week 3 of 2022. He threw for 303 yards and two scores and nearly brought Las Vegas back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit in a 24-22 loss. 

vs. Carolina Panthers 

• 2-0 record 

• 70.6% completion percentage 

• 554 yards

• 3 touchdowns 

• 1 interception

• one 300-yard game 

Carr torched the entire NFC South during the 2016 season, going 3-1 against the division while throwing for 1,446 yards with 10 touchdowns and 1 interception. He threw for 315 yards and two scores during a comeback win in Week 12 of that year against Carolina. 

Other than of course the Raiders, the Panthers are the only NFL team that Carr has never lost against as a starter.

Sep 13, 2020; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

 vs. Green Bay Packers 

• 0-2 record 

• 60% completion percentage 

• 569 yards

• 4 touchdowns 

• 3 interceptions 

Green Bay is one of five teams that Carr has not beaten as a starting quarterback. 

vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

• 1-1 record 

• 67.4% completion percentage 

• 797 yards

• 6 touchdowns 

• 1 interception 

• one 300-yard game

Carr had his best game as a pro at Tampa Bay during Week 8 of the 2016 season. His four touchdowns and career-high 513 yards outdueled new teammate Jameis Winston in a 30-24 overtime victory. 

vs. New England Patriots 

• 1-3 record 

• 60.8% completion percentage 

• 903 yards

• 6 touchdowns 

• 3 interceptions 

A Chandler Jones fumble return for a touchdown capped off one of the most bizarre endings in NFL history last season when the Raiders defeated New England on the final play. 

Lost in the Patriots blunder was the fact that Carr led the Raiders on a last minute drive to tie the game with just 32 seconds remaining. It was Carr's first victory over New England in four tries. It was also Carr's last victory as the quarterback of the Raiders. 

vs. Houston Texans 

• 2-2 record 

• 66.9% completion percentage 

• 1,084 yards

• 8 touchdowns 

• 3 interceptions 

The first home game of Carr's career with Dennis Allen was in Week 2 of the 2014 season against Houston. It would be the second of four straight losses to start his career and led to Allen's firing after Week 4.

vs. Jacksonville Jaguars 

• 1-2 record 

• 60.6% completion percentage 

• 726 yards

• 4 touchdowns 

• 0 interceptions 

The Jaguars are one of five teams that Carr has yet to throw an interception against in his career. 

vs. Indianapolis Colts 

• 3-3 record 

• 69.6% completion percentage 

• 1,484 yards

• 13 touchdowns 

• 4 interceptions 

• one 300-yard game 

Outside of AFC West foes, Carr's 13 touchdown passes against Indianapolis are more than any other opponent. Only the Miami Dolphins have been victimized for more passing yards from Carr than the Colts among teams outside the AFC West.

vs. Chicago Bears 

• 1-2 record 

• 67% completion percentage 

• 631 yards

• 2 touchdowns 

• 2 interceptions 

Carr is just 2-7 in his career against the NFC North. Detroit (1-1) is the only one of this division's teams that he doesn't have a losing record against. 

vs. Minnesota Vikings 

• 0-2 record 

• 72.7% completion percentage 

• 544 yards

• 4 touchdowns 

• 3 interceptions 

• one 300-yard game 

Minnesota is one of five teams that Carr has yet to beat. However, his 72.7% completion percentage is his third highest against any opponent in his career to date. His first career 300-yard game against an NFC opponent was also against the Vikings, occurring in Week 10 of the 2015 season. 

Nov 29, 2020; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

vs. Atlanta Falcons 

• 0-2 record 

• 70.9% completion percentage 

• 514 yards

• 3 touchdowns 

• 1 interception 

Despite good statistical output, Carr has yet to beat Atlanta in two tries.

vs. Detroit Lions 

• 1-1 record 

• 58.9% completion percentage 

• 458 yards

• 2 touchdowns 

• 0 interceptions 

The Lions are one of just two teams that Carr has less than 60% completion percentage against. His 458 passing yards are the third fewest he's had against any opponent that he's faced at least twice. 

vs. New York Giants 

• 1-1 record 

• 63.4% completion percentage 

• 583 yards

• 2 touchdowns 

• 2 interceptions 

Carr has come up just shy of 300 yards through the air in both career meetings against the Giants. 

vs. Los Angeles Rams 

• 0-3 record 

• 64.6% completion percentage 

• 613 yards

• 0 touchdowns 

• 7 interceptions 

• one 300-yard game 

Carr has one 300-yard outing against the Rams, but has been mostly abysmal against them in three meetings. They are the only team he's faced where he has yet to throw a touchdown. Outside of AFC West opponents Kansas City and the Chargers, no other team has as many interceptions against Carr.

Career Against 2023 Opponents

Oct 30, 2016; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

• 16-26 record (.381)

• 246.5 passing yards per game 

• 67 touchdown passes

• 32 interceptions 

• seven 300-yard games 

Carr has a 5-4 career mark against the NFC South. He has a 2-1 record against New Orleans with 704 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. 

Against new division opponents Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay, Carr has a 3-3 record. He's completed over 69% of his throws for 1,865 yards (310.8/game) with 12 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. 

Derek Carr has put up nice numbers against most teams he's faced in a nine-year NFL career, but it hasn't always translated to wins. He'll have much more talent around him in New Orleans than he ever did with the Raiders. The Saints are banking on that and Carr's continued production to lead them back to the top of the NFC South. 

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