Can Raiders Ride Carr to Playoffs?

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Politics aside, I am a sports fan.  I realize that sports can be a distraction, but I feel I've reached a balance that allows me to enjoy the world of sports, without allowing it to dominate my life.

Baseball is my main sport, and as an Angels fan (since the mid-70s) this year is feeling even better than 2002 when the Angels won the World Series.  They have the best record in baseball, their second best by only a game off, in history at this point in the season, and they are nearly half a dozen games up on the A's who are in second place in the American League West.

It's a good time to be an Angels fan.

In football, my number two sport, I am a Raiders fan.  I have been a silver and black fan since the seventies, as well, and was more than excited during their stint in Los Angeles.  The last decade, plus two years, has been pretty rough.  Ever since Gruden used his knowledge of the Raiders tendencies to man-handle the team in the 2002 Super Bowl and hand them a devastating loss that was beyond embarrassing, the Raider Nation has been more like a banana republic that has cheerleaders that are in the end zone more often than the offense is.

In the 2014 draft, in the second round, the Raiders picked up the best quarterback available in the draft, and for a second round price. . . Derek Carr.  The young quarterback was excited, because he was raised in Northern California, and grew up a Raiders fan.  He was going to play on the team of his dreams.

Before drafting Derek Carr, whose older brother, by the way, is an NFL quarterback, Oakland picked up Matt Shaub, who had a good year, and then last year fell apart.  They touted him as the savior of the team, and then after drafting Carr, as being the quarterback for a couple years until Carr was ready to lead the team.

During pre-season, Shaub was pretty much what he was last year on the Texans. . . a disaster.  Beyond ten yards, he's pretty much worthless.

Derek Carr, however, had a great pre-season, and in the finale against Seattle, he tore it up.  Even the defense played better while Carr was under center.

Now, the Raiders have announced Derek Carr will be the opening day starter.

Good choice.

I hate sending the kid to the wolves, but with Shaub as the quarterback, two back to back 4-12 seasons would sound okay because Matt would be lucky to win two games all year long.

With Carr under center, I think the Raiders might be able to pull off a .500 season.  At worst, with Carr under center, they've got to at least be able to improve on the last two seasons... and keep Mark Davis from throwing any more temper tantrums.

Playoffs?  If Carr plays like he did against Seattle in that final preseason game, it could be a possibility.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary