In the NFL, there's no such thing as a disappointing win or good loss. The Raiders earned a victory in an imperfect, sloppy and hard-fought contest—none of those adjectives show up in the win column.
Oakland stands as a 5-6 team still in the playoff hunt with a division rival and current AFC Wild Card team next on its schedule. Its Week 13 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs is nothing less than a statement game for the Raiders.
Doubt has crept back into the psyche of Raider Nation, but the opportunity to extend the season remains within reach.
Commitment to Excellence: Carr Trusting Receivers
We could analyze quarterback Derek Carr’s three-touchdown performance, but it’s the trust in his players that made this particular victory possible.
All week, news clippings and chatter about wide receiver Amari Cooper’s drops circulated as a concern for Raiders offense. During the week, Carr answered those critics with confidence in his rookie wideout in a weekly press conference.
On Sunday, he targeted Cooper with conviction. The rookie came out and put together another solid performance, catching seven passes for 115 yards against a top-tier secondary.
He also broke into the record books and will be remembered as one of the most productive rookies in franchise history.
Cooper will drop a few passes, but he’s going to offset and outweigh those miscues with spectacular moments as a bona fide playmaker.
Carr also cycled through his reads to find an unassuming playmaker in Sunday’s outcome. Wide receiver Seth Roberts played the best game of his short career...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
