Head coach Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders aren't having quite the season they envisioned, with their second consecutive loss on Sunday in Week 13 to the Kansas City Chiefs dropping the AFC West franchise to 6-6 on the 2019 season. Despite the mediocre record, Gruden has confidence in franchise quarterback Derek Carr.
Per Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune on Twitter:
“[Carr has] performed very well with a lot of moving parts. And if you think that's easy, then you're mistaken. I compliment him for his competitiveness, his preparation and his ability to compete each week.”
2) Gruden on Carr: . . . 'Hes performed very well with a lot of moving parts. And if you think that's easy, then you're mistaken. I compliment him for his competitiveness, his preparation and his ability to compete each week.' #raiders
— Jerry McDonald (@Jerrymcd) December 2, 2019
Carr, 28, in the losing effort yesterday to division rival Chiefs, threw 20/30 for 222 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and one fumble. On the season, the former second-round pick of the Raiders in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Fresno St. has 2,843 passing yards on a career-best 70.6 completion rate, along with connecting on 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Despite Carr's play, the Raiders have a 2-2 record against their division, with both losses coming at the hands of last season's MVP Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City. While the Raiders dropped a game the previous week to the New York Jets—the only team to lose to two teams this season with 0-7 or worse records—Carr and Oakland still have a shot to creep into the AFC playoffs, with a fairly light schedule up ahead.
The Raiders play two more division games against the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos, and up next play against AFC South clubs in the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
If everything falls into place, though, and Gruden remains confident in Carr under center, the Raiders could say good-bye to Oakland with one last trip to the NFL postseason.
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