It wasn’t a good first week for Derek Carr.
The second-year quarterback – whom the Raiders hope blossoms into an elite quarterback in 2015 – didn’t play all that well, or very long, in the opening game of the season, a 33-13 loss to Cincinnati at O.co Coliseum.
Carr hit just 7-of-12 throws for 61 yards before hurting his throwing hand, forcing him to leave the game.
But Carr has bounced back and is expected to lead the Raiders against the visiting Baltimore Ravens this Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
Though he says his bruised right thumb “isn’t 100 percent,” it’s good enough to go.
But against the Ravens, Carr knows the Raiders offense will have to be much better than it was against Cincinnati.
The passing game didn’t really challenge Cincinnati deep while Carr was in the game, and the running game was largely forgotten early and then abandoned, for the most part, when the Bengals built a big lead.
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“We have to be more efficient on first and second down, myself included,” Carr told the Sacramento Bee. “I have to be more efficient in where to throw the football, (recognizing) what coverage are they playing, and what’s the best option. If we’re throwing well, that’s going to help Latavius (Murray). If Latavius is running well, that’s going to help us on the perimeter.”
The Ravens, who practiced in San Jose this week after losing to the Broncos in Week 1, have been made 4-point favorites.
In fact, the Raiders have beaten the Ravens only once in eight meetings, that coming in 2003.
The Ravens come in having lost veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs for the season, yet Baltimore’s defense is formidable. The Ravens gave up just 219 total yards to the Broncos in Week 1, the stingiest total in the NFL.
So, Carr and the offense will have their work cut out.
On offense, Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco had a tough opener, completing 18-of-32 throws for just 117 yards with two interceptions. He’ll be going against a Raiders secondary that didn’t play well last week and has lost starting safety Nate Allen. Veteran Charles Woodson, however, will play, even after suffering a shoulder injury in the opener. Allen will be replaced by either Taylor Mays or Larry Asante.
The Raiders are hoping to bounce back after a the Game 1 loss – a huge disappointment after an upbeat offseason. Head coach Jack Del Rio, however, isn't in panic mode. He says this week’s game isn’t any more important than the others on the schedule.
“You get 16 opportunities that you get an opportunity to go compete in, and if you do enough in those opportunities then you get more,” he told reporters this week. “Every game is important.”
