OAKLAND -- Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has taken some heat for throwing the ball away on fourth-and-5 late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the L.A. Chargers.
It was viewed by many as a concession, even if his odds of extending a comeback drive were minimal with intended receiver Jalen Richard well covered and edge rusher Melvin Ingram bearing down.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden took responsibility Monday, saying the play call was poor and put Carr in a precarious position.
"There wasn't a lot he could've done," Gruden said in a press conference. "He could've been Fran Tarkenton and done a 360 and reversed the field a few times, but there wasn't much he could've done there.
"You have to credit the play-caller with that outcome."
Gruden also fell on the sword for another disastrous fourth-down failure in the opening series. The Raiders faced a fourth-and-goal from the 1, and Dwayne Harris ran a jet sweep toward the left. It wasn't blocked well, with missed assignments inside and out. Opponents had used the play successfully against the Chargers, but the Raiders' attempt fell flat in both execution and timing.
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"It wasn't blocked exactly as we put it on the card, and with how they lined up," Gruden said. "I credit the Chargers. They're a good football team. (Melvin) Ingram strung it out a little bit, and Derwin James made a very good play. Once again, it was not a very good play call because it didn't work."
"A lot of people are running that play, as you know, in the tight red zone. My first time using it wasn't a great experience."
