Carr proves he is not just some fair-weather quarterback

Derek Carr had to move to the desert to prove he could play in cold weather.

When Oakland was his base of operations, Carr was 2-11 in games that started below 50 degrees and 1-10 at 45 or below. It’s true he usually played those games with an inferior team. It’s also undeniable Carr was truly awful in many of them.

That all changed Sunday in a 16- 6 win over the Cleveland Browns, with a brutal wind off Lake Erie blowing 35 miles per hour or more, plus varying degrees of wind, ice and snow.

It was an important win for the Raiders, coming as it did against a peripheral playoff contender, with the Browns falling to 5-3. Carr’s numbers were pe

destrian — 15 of 24 for 112 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. But his command and influence were off the charts in one of the most significant games of his career.

“When you come from Las Vegas … to the cold weather, the terrible weather, and get a win, that’s a great feeling especially on the road,” Carr said in a postgame video teleconference.

Carr’s first deep throw missed Henry Ruggs III by a wide margin. It was clear the Raiders were going to have to temporarily park their newfound downfield passing aggression in the garage.

“Anything over 10 yards, your guess was as good as mine as to where the ball was going to end up,” Carr said. “It was ridiculous. It rained; it sleeted; it snowed. It was snowing sideways.”

So Carr became a game manager, the dreaded term for minimally talented quarterbacks who emphasize avoiding mistakes over something more daring.

In this case, the game manager was a savior. On the 15play, 75-yard drive that broke a 6- 6 tie and gave the Raiders the lead for good, Carr completed 6 of 7 passes for 37 yards, finishing with a 4-yard strike to Hunter Renfrow in the end zone. Carr also ran 11 yards for a first down on a third-and-8 to the 49-yard line and finished with 41 yards on eight carries.

The Raiders’ last scoring drive was a 29-yard field goal after Cleveland stonewalled Josh Jacobs at the goal line three times, and it was set up by an 18-yard run by Carr on a zone read option.. Given the choice to run or pass, Carr chose to run.

Carr’s best throw didn’t even count, as he led Ruggs perfectly on a 10-yard corner route with officials ruling the rookie didn’t get both feet in bounds. Carr could have played the victim game preferred by so much of Raider Nation when it comes to officiating.

Instead, the Raiders took the points, followed Carr’s lead and kept doing what it took to win the game.

Coach Jon Gruden thought it was one of Carr’s best games. He’s been in Carr’s ear for three years to create with his feet on occasion. Carr is probably getting sick of seeing all that old Rich Gannon tape.

“I’m really proud of Derek. It is unfortunate you guys don’t get to see him every day with his teammates because of this virus, but he has showcased a lot of leadership and poise for us during this tough time,” Gruden said.

Not that the Raiders want Carr to become Kyler Murray or Josh Allen. Jacobs said he was thinking “slide!” as Carr was running along the sideline. Taking on a tackler as Carr did on one run is something he should avoid. It was as close as Gruden got to criticism of Carr.

“I don’t say, ‘Atta boy.’ I say, ‘Are you out of your mind? Don’t get carried away,’ “Gruden said. “He is a great competitor. We have had receivers come and go. We have had linemen come and go. He has hung in there, and he is finding ways to move the team.”

Carr’s “who cares” crusade stressing anything other than winning each week remained intact. The Raiders are 4-3 against one of the NFL’s toughest schedules through seven games.

“I’ve been to the Pro Bowl, I’ve gotten paid money and things like that. I don’t care about that stuff,” Carr said. “I really don’t. I want to win football games. That’s why when I give everything I have and we win it makes me pumped, especially with the way we had to grind it out.”

Sounds like fair-weather Derek has been put on ice.