Buster: QB Derek Carr

In four of the five losses the Raiders suffered in their final six games, Carr was part of the problem. Three of those times, he was the “Top Buster.” Overall he was a “Buster” seven times and five times he was named the “Top Buster.”

Boiling it down, it was part decision making and part accuracy issues. He would miss open receivers too often when he was dead set on throwing to a particular receiver whether that receiver was blanketed or not. Or more often, he would just check it down regardless of the situation or throw it away when a shot downfield was the right play.

His poor decisions in the final game in Oakland got him booed off the field. Afterward he acted like it’s just how Raiders fans in Oakland behave as opposed to any fans anywhere in a similar situation watching the team they poured their heart and souls out for come out in their final second half farewell and score zero second-half points while their QB is throwing the ball away with seconds left and several times missing open receivers.

Carr could have taken ownership of the reaction by the fans, but instead he acted like they were all just spoiled brats who he gave up so much to please and they were simply unappreciative of his sacrifices. It was not a good look.

The last we saw from Carr was in Denver. In that game, he twice missed Hunter Renfrow open for what would have been a touchdown; once overthrowing him in short-yardage at the goal line and the other underthrowing him on what would have been a long touchdown.

Carr didn’t complete a TD pass until the final drive gifted to them by a Broncos penalty and after the Raiders were notified they had been eliminated from the playoffs so the pressure was off. If you like stats, you’ll love Carr’s over 70% completion and over 4000 yards passing. If you like wins, you won’t like how he got those stats.

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