Raiders’ Carr set for playoff debut
For Derek Carr, the journey to the NFL playoffs has been a long and often frustrating one over his eight seasons as starting quarterback for the Raiders.
No quarterback ever has endured more losses as a starter in his first eight seasons than has Carr, who has a 57-70 record after six seasons with the Raiders in Oakland and two more with the team in Las Vegas.
That’s what makes this improbable trip to the playoffs for a Raiders team counted out just four weeks ago so gratifying. Especially for Carr, who has taken a big share of criticism for the losing seasons and now finally gets to perform on the playoff stage — the Raiders open at Cincinnati — after being stuck at home with a broken ankle five years ago when the Raiders last made the postseason.
“Obviously, it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was drafted,” Carr said. “That’s all I want to do is get to the playoffs and try and win a championship. The fact that we’re in the tournament, it’s really cool. I’m super thankful. I’ve worked my tail off. I’ve prayed that I could experience that one day and I get to. It’s cool.”
Carr didn’t have that opportunity in the 2016 season when he helped lead the Raiders to a 12-3 record before going down with an injury in the penultimate game of the season. But repeating that success proved difficult. Carr regressed the next season when the Raiders slipped to 6-10, then took time getting comfortable in Jon Gruden’s offense after the head coach’s arrival in 2018.
Carr had a strong season in 2020 but was done in by turnovers and a porous defense. Then, a promising start this season looked like it would go to waste after Gruden was forced to resign over the publication of his old offensive emails and receiver Henry Ruggs III was released after being charged with felonies in a crash that killed a 23-year-old woman.
The Raiders then lost five out of six before recovering with four straight nail-biting wins to end the season. Carr was far from his best in that span with five turnovers and five TD passes but he did manage to make some big passes in key moments, setting up gamewinning field goals the past two weeks with spectacular throws to Hunter Renfrow and Zay Jones that he might not have been able to deliver back in 2016.
“I feel like I’m a better player than I was then,” Carr said. “I was young and doing a lot of crazy things that ... didn’t always work out. But I just feel like a much more wise, smarter player now than I was then. I feel more equipped and ready now even than back then. It’s an exciting time for sure.”
Patriots at Bills: If this is the end of the line for Jerry Hughes’ career, the Buffalo Bills’ defensive end is primed for the playoffs.
Whether it’s facing the rival New England Patriots for a third time in seven weeks or the prospect of playing in potentially sub-zero temperatures on Saturday night, the 12thyear veteran is eager to take both head on.
“Spend some time outside, take off your pants, get in some shorts and enjoy that weather, really embrace it,” Hughes said of preparing for what could be the coldest game in Bills’ history.
More important is Buffalo having an opportunity to make up for unfinished business a year after its deepest playoff run in 27 years ended with a loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
“If this is my last opportunity being a Buffalo Bill, I want to go out on top,” Hughes said.
Buffalo briefly ceded first place in the AFC East after a 14-10 loss to New England on Dec. 6. Three weeks later, the Bills responded with a 33-21 win at New England as part of a four-game winning streak to clinch their second consecutive division title.
While Buffalo (11-6) has become the team to beat in the AFC East, the Patriots (10-7) have undergone a fast-tracked transition following QB Tom Brady’s departure two years ago.
After missing the playoffs last season for just the fourth time since coach Bill Belichick’s arrival in 2000, the Patriots leaned on a multi-faceted running attack and sturdy defense to take the pressure off rookie QB Mac Jones this year.
But the Patriots faltered down the stretch in losing three of four, being outscored by a combined 93-62 in those defeats.
Chiefs without RB: The Chiefs will be without Clyde Edwards-Helaire for their wild-card playoff game against the Steelers on Sunday night after their starting running back was unable to put together a full week of practice because of a hurt collarbone.