Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr Says Sunday’s Win Validates ‘The Whole Room’
Oct 3, 2022, 11:36 AM
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders had a lot to celebrate Sunday.
While defeating a division rival is, on its own, good, the team was able to set a couple of markers. for the first time since 2019, the defense scored a touchdown. In the second quarter, Duron Harmon forced a Melvin Gordon fumble, which was picked up and returned 68 yards for a score by cornerback Amik Robertson.
Secondly, running back Josh Jacobs looked dominant, setting a new career single-game rushing high with 144 yards and two touchdowns. Speaking to the media after the game, coach Josh McDaniels said did a good job, especially protecting the ball.
“He makes good decisions, and he’s taking care of the football,” McDaniels said. “Obviously, that’s an important part of this. They were trying to strip at it, punch at it tonight. They do a great job of creating fumbles. We talked about that all week. I was really proud of our team that we didn’t have any on the ground.”
Quarterback Derek Carr added to McDaniels’ thoughts, giving credit to the offensive line, fullbacks and tight ends for opening the holes for Jacobs and the runners Sunday.
“Some of those impacts I saw when I turned around were unbelievable,” Carr said. “But some of the cuts Josh made today, I think there was one of those little zone runs to the left and he stopped, he spun, and he went back up through it. I said, ‘That’s different.’ He hit it, and he knew that there was a hole there, so he spun back into it and had a huge run and had an acceleration out of it which was special.”
READ MORE FROM SACTOWN SPORTS: Josh Jacobs Sets Career High As Raiders Get First Win Of Season Against Broncos
"I'm just so proud of him."@derekcarrqb on @iAM_JoshJacobs' performance today pic.twitter.com/6QMoX6U2aH
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 3, 2022
Asked one last time if the win means more to him since the Broncos were his first coaching experience, McDaniels brushed away the idea.
“I don’t look at that team with any kind of ill will, other than the fact that they’re a division opponent and we don’t like any of those guys,” McDaniels said. “That’s the sweet part for us is, I don’t want to make this about me, this is just our team trying to hold our home turf here against another division opponent.”
“That was a damn good hard-fought victory in the division.”
Coach McDaniels gets the game ball from @derekcarrqb 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7CHOdPvtTD
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 3, 2022