Oakland red-faced in red zone
Carr loses ball out of bounds short of pylon; Packers roll on offense
GREEN BAY, WIS. >> Quarterback Derek Carr had a stellar first half come undone with a bad decision while scrambling and then Aaron Rodgers took over as the Raiders fell 42-24 to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
Carr, as he did against the Dallas Cowboys two seasons ago, lost the ball out of bounds while reaching for the pylon, resulting in a touchback for the Packers instead of a score for the Raiders.
The Packers made it hurt even worse when Rodgers hit Jake Kumerow over Daryl Worley for a 37-yard touchdown before the half ended. A potential 17-14 lead was suddenly a 21-10 deficit. Kumerow nearly stepped out of bounds at the 5-yard line but the call was upheld upon review.
“It’s so hard not to try,” Carr told reporters afterward. “That’s everything I’ve ever been about in my adult life is to try. I’ve got to go two-hands, right? Trying to extend with one hand isn’t smart. It’s stupid. It’s really hard in that situation. I’m not thinking of anything else (but) I can get in ... it’s my fault. I let my team down on that.”
Raiders coach Jon Gruden gritted his teeth and did his best to commend Carr for his desire, if not the end result.
“It’s a fine line, a fine line,” Gruden said. “I compliment his effort. I think the ball slipped out of his hands, and it’s a big play in the game.”
Rodgers finished 25 of 31 for 429 yards, five touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. Carr, who also threw an end zone interception in the second half, was 22 of 28 for 293 yards and touchdowns of 10 yards to Foster Moreau and 10 yards to Darren Waller.
The Raiders fall to 3-3 and visit the Houston Texans to close out their epic road swing. Green Bay improved to 6-1 and is in control of the NFC North.
Studs
AARON RODGERS >> Threw touchdown passes of 21 yards to Aaron Jones, 2 yards to Jamal Williams and then a 37-yard touchdown to Jake Kumerow with 12 seconds left in the half. Rodgers finished the half 15 of 19 for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Finished off his day with a 74-yard touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“He’s one of the best all-time. Made a couple of great audibles, made a couple of great throws. Tough as hell,” Gruden said. “We hit him a couple of times. Didn’t bother him one bit . . . he just did a great job. And we’ve got to play better defensively. There’s no excuse for giving up long plays like that.”
DEREK CARR >> After missing his first few throws, Carr got hot and at one point completed nine straight passes. He directed a 14play, 86-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 10yard TD pass to Moreau despite a pair of holding penalties. Carr finished 12 of 15 for 167 yards in the first half. Mike Glennon came in to mop up in the fourth quarter and threw a touchdown pass.
JOSH JACOBS >> Jacobs had a 42-yard run on his second carry and 53 yards on three carries on the opening drive, which resulted on a 45-yard goal by Daniel Carlson. Jacobs left briefly with a shoulder injury but returned. Jacobs had 68 yards on 10 carries at the half and finished with 124 yards on 21 carries. KEELAN DOSS >> Had a career-best 31-yard reception from Carr during Raiders’ scoring drive in the second quarter. The Raiders are without Tyrell Williams for the second consecutive game.
DARREN WALLER >> After having an earlier 29-yard touchdown play called back on a hold, the newly-extended tight end had back to back catches of 16 and 48 yards on the Raiders’ last drive of the first half. He had his first career touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Carr in the third quarter. Waller added a 17-yard catch from Glennon and finished with seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
DAVID SHARPE >> Starting at right tackle in place of the injured Trent Brown, Sharpe was called for a holding penalty which negated a 16-yard gain from Carr to Derek Carrier on the Raiders’ third possession. Even worse, a second against Dean Lowry negated a 28-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Darren Waller. The penalties ultimately didn’t hurt, as Carr hit Foster Moreau for a 10yard touchdown.
Aside from those two penalties, neither of which ended up costing the Raiders, Sharpe held up well.
Duds
CARR’S MISTAKES >> Losing the ball out of the end zone helped turn the momentum of the game. But with the Raiders struggling to stay in it down 35-17 in the fourth quarter, a forced throw into the end zone was intercepted by Kevin King. It was the third time the Raiders failed to score when deep in the red zone.
“The interception at the end was just me trying to get some points on the board,” Carr said. “Not typically a ball I’d throw. But give (King) credit. He was covering Foster (Moreau), I threw it and he fell off on to the other guy. Stuff happens. We’ve got to finish, man. Finish those drives.” RUSH AND COVERAGE >> The Raiders had neither and a future Hall of Fame quarterback predictably had a Hall of Fame day.
“Collectively we didn’t get enough push up front, we didn’t get in his face enough,” said defensive end Maxx Crosby, who had the lone sack of Rodgers. “He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he did a good job. But defensively we hurt ourselves all game.”.
You could make the argument that as costly as Carr’s fumble was, and his late interception, the Raiders just gave up far too much to Rodgers and Co. to have a realistic chance to win. FOURTH-AND-GOAL >> Jacobs was stuffed on a dive in the fourth quarter with the Raiders at the 1-yard line. Given their success at this play and that it goes to the root of their offensive personality, the execution can be debated if not the call. ERIK HARRIS >> Called for a pass interference play against Jimmy Graham that set up the Packers with a first-and-goal at the 3-yard line. The Packers converted with a 2-yard pass from Rodgers to Jamal Williams for the touchdown. Harris indeed grabbed Graham’s jersey and interfered, but it’s debatable whether Rodgers’ throw qualified as a “catchable” pass.