Carr, Raiders take aim at a 3-0 start to season
Derek Carr has heard all the accolades after his scintillating start to the season for the Las Vegas Raiders and has a message for those handing out praise: Cool it.
The back-to-back wins over Baltimore and Pittsburgh and the prolific numbers are nice, but Carr knows that won’t matter if the Raiders can’t beat Miami today in a rematch against the team that officially ended their playoff hopes late last season.
“Everyone is feeling good about themselves going 2-0 and all that kind of stuff,” said Carr. “Well, they don’t hand any trophies out after two weeks. They don’t give you any kind of anything. We have a team coming in here that got after us. They beat us.”
The Dolphins beat the Raiders 2625 last December when Ryan Fitzpatrick led a game-winning drive in the final 19 seconds.
That assured the Raiders of a fourth straight season without a winning record or playoff berth that they are hoping to snap this year.
Carr and an improved defense led by new coordinator Gus Bradley have them off to a good start as he has thrown for 817 yards — the seventh most in the first two games of a season — and four TDs, while the defense has five sacks and three takeaways.
“They’re explosive,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “They’re really moving the ball. Derek Carr does a great job. I should always mention him first. He’s done a great job of taking total control of that offense, putting them in good positions to have success. He finds the matchups. He knows what defenses he’s looking at. And then defensively, I think Gus Bradley is doing a real nice job of getting those guys coached up.”
All of that means the Raiders have a chance for their first 3-0 start in almost two decades.
The Dolphins are coming off a 35-0 loss at home to Buffalo and will be playing a backup quarterback with Jacoby Brissett taking over for Tua Tagovailoa, who hurt his ribs in that game.
BUCCANEERS AT RAMS
Tom Brady, 44, is off to a brilliant start, leading the league with nine touchdown passes. But the Rams’ defense is a difficult test for anyone, even a seven-time Super Bowl winner. Bucs coach Bruce Arians doesn’t seem worried. “I think he has a great grasp of it. That’s obvious. The way teams are trying to play us, he sees it early and they usually don’t break their pattern,” Arians says. “I mean, he didn’t know the plays last year . ... He knows them all now.” The Rams have been just as dangerous in the passing game, with Cooper Kupp having two straight games with at least seven grabs for over 100 yards and a TD.
WASHINGTON AT BILLS
The Bills have won seven of the past eight meetings, with Washington’s only victory during that stretch in 2015 at home. Before that, the previous time Washington beat Buffalo was the Super Bowl following the 1991 season. That was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for the Bills and Washington’s most recent championship. Washington has not won at Buffalo since 1987. Some strong coaching ties, too. Bills coach Sean McDermott faces Washington’s Ron Rivera, who originally hired him as defensive coordinator in Carolina. Rivera and Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier were teammates with the Bears for two seasons in the mid-1980s.
RAVENS AT LIONS
The camaraderie, emotional edge and coaching acumen of the Ravens was so evident last Sunday night when they rallied to beat Kansas City. They must stay at that level against a weaker opponent. “I didn’t get on a high horse or anything and be like, ‘We just won a championship,’ or something,” quarterback Lamar Jackson says. “None of that has happened yet. We still have a long season ahead of us.” Detroit’s season already seems long.
CARDINALS AT JAGUARS
Urban Meyer was a huge coaching success in college. Kliff Kingsbury had a so-so record. Judging by the early returns in 2021, Meyer’s move to Jacksonville has been a flop. Kingsbury, meanwhile, in his third pro season, has one of the NFL’s most dynamic and exciting squads. The Jags have lost their past 17 games and now face one of their nemeses. Former Houston receiver DeAndre Hopkins put up big numbers against the Jaguars when he played them twice a year: 79 receptions for 930 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. He also won 10 of his past 12 games against the Jags.
CHARGERS AT CHIEFS
Hard to believe the loser of this AFC West matchup will be last in the division. The Chiefs fell 36-35 at Baltimore, blowing a late lead as Patrick Mahomes lost in September for the first time. It wasn’t much his fault, though he threw the first pick of his career in the month. Kansas City is allowing more than 200 yards per game on the ground, and L.A. has a versatile offense. How running back Austin Ekeler fares against the Chiefs could determine the winner.
SAINTS AT PATRIOTS
One of several teams to make a huge turnaround in Week 2 — and it was not a pretty change for the Saints. After routing Green Bay, New Orleans fell apart against a budding defense in Carolina. After being pressured three times in Week 1, Jameis Winston was pressured 16 times last week, sacked four times and hit an additional six. Winston completed 11 of 22 passes for no TDs and two INTs. One thing is certain: The Patriots won’t be looking ahead to Tom Brady’s return next week. Their coach won’t allow it and probably hasn’t allowed the players to even look at the October schedule.
BENGALS AT STEELERS
The first 2021 season matchup in the NFL’s most physical division, and the hosts come in with loads of injury concerns: QB Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral); 2020 All-Pro edge rusher T.J. Watt (groin); LBs Alex Highsmith (groin) and Devin Bush (groin); CB Joe Haden (groin); and WR Diontae Johnson (knee). DT Tyson Alualu went on injured reserve after breaking his right ankle. Still, the Bengals are the Steelers’ punching bag. Pittsburgh has won 14 of the past 16 meetings overall and five straight against the Bengals at Heinz Field.
COLTS AT TITANS
An early meeting between the likely AFC South contenders, though the Colts are off to a miserable, injuryriddled beginning. They lost twice at home and head to Music City with bad vibes and probably without quarterback Carson Wentz. Tennessee’s comeback victory at Seattle last Sunday was exemplary. Having Derrick Henry toting the ball helped: The reigning Offensive Player of the Year ran for 182 yards and three TDs. He also rushed for 178 yards and three TDs in his previous game against the Colts, who are giving up 120.5 yards rushing a game.
SEAHAWKS AT VIKINGS
Minnesota’s two defeats came down to the final play, with mistakes hurting
the Vikings, who have scored 57 points. QB Kirk Cousins has 72% completion rate, with five touchdowns and zero picks. Russell Wilson is 7-0 against Minnesota, whose leaky defense must watch out for Tyler Lockett. He had TD receptions of 69 yards in Week 1 and 63 yards in Week 2, one of six receivers in history with TD catches of 60 or more yards in each of the first two games of a season. No player has done so in three straight games out of the gate, and Wilson throws the best deep ball in football.
BEARS AT BROWNS
When George Halas and Paul Brown were coaching these teams, it was a pro football highlight going back to 1951. Now, the most interest could be on rookie Justin Fields starting at quarterback for Chicago with Andy Dalton injured. Fields played in the second half against Cincinnati and the No. 11 overall draft pick went 6 of 13 for 60 yards with a late interception that led to a touchdown. He added 31 yards rushing in the victory. Cleveland’s pass rush led by 2020 All-Pro Myles Garrett could make the day miserable for Fields.
JETS AT BRONCOS
This could be the mismatch of the week as the Broncos continue their early easy ride; they have beaten the Giants and Jaguars thus far, both on the road. Denver ranks third overall on defense and has a healthy Von Miller threatening offenses again. The Jets have lost 11 straight games in the month of September and are 0-2 for the third consecutive season. Rookie QB Zach Wilson comes off a fourinterception game vs. New England.
FALCONS AT GIANTS
The only matchup of winless teams, with the Falcons a sieve on defense, the Giants inconsistent on both sides of the ball. Atlanta’s Arthur Smith is looking for his first win as an NFL head coach. It took Giants coach Joe Judge six games to get his as a firsttime head coach last year.
PACKERS AT 49ERS
This is Green Bay’s fourth trip to San Francisco in 22 months. The Niners won the first two meetings in the 2019 regular season and the NFC title game. Green Bay won last year in the regular season. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers had a nice bounce-back game at Detroit last week after one of his worst performances in a seasonopening loss to New Orleans. The 49ers’ running back room has been decimated by injuries, most recently with JaMycal Hasty ruled out with a high ankle sprain and Elijah Mitchell (shoulder) and Trey Sermon (concussion) questionable.