ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Derek Carr called his dislocated right pinkie finger "some of the most pain I’ve ever felt in my life" after returning to help lead another comeback victory.
Imagine the pain, then, felt by Carolina after Carr’s injured digit actually improved his deep passing game -- helped, of course, by a black glove on his right hand that resembled something Luke Skywalker wore after getting his hand chopped off by Darth Vader.
Is it me or does @derekcarrqb look like Luke w/ his new hand in Jedi? @PGutierrezESPN pic.twitter.com/1BauECRBjf
— Paul Goldberg (@paulinlaca) November 28, 2016
A lightsaber being wielded by his father had nothing to do with it, though. Rather, it was a mistimed snap between center Rodney Hudson and Carr that did the damage. Yet the Force was indeed with Carr in the Raiders' 35-32 victory, in which they led 24-7 at halftime and trailed, 32-24, in the fourth quarter.
It was Carr’s fifth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, the most by any Oakland Raiders quarterback in a single season.
Tom Flores never did it. Neither did Daryle Lamonica, Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett or Rich Gannon, let alone Todd Marinovich or JaMarcus Russell.
None of them had that stark black glove, either, or worked exclusively out of the shotgun to limit the pain that would accompany taking the snap from Hudson.
Although Carr’s completion percentage fell from 75.0 percent (15 for 20) to 61.1 percent (11-18) after the injury, his degree of difficulty also increased. Call it playing catch up to the Panthers.
Per ESPN Stats & Information, Carr’s average pass went 9.1 yards past the line of scrimmage when he returned to the game, as opposed to 5.1 yards before his injury. Plus, he completed five of those seven passes that went at least 10 yards -- including a touchdown -- after the injury. He was just two for four on such throws before.
"He’s a fighter, he’s a beast," left tackle Donald Penn said of his quarterback. "He came in that second half and didn’t miss a beat. I don’t know what you guys are watching, but that dude is a beast."
And Carr’s deepest completion was a 49-yarder to Michael Crabtree, a ball that went 44 yards through the air on the game-winning drive.
"Their safety got flat-footed and doubled (tight end Mychal) Rivera on the left side, and had Crabtree one-on-one, with their guy and his back turned," Carr said. "And you know me; I’m going to give my guys chances to make plays, especially in that kind of yardage and situation.
"When you get a matchup like that, you’ve got to take that chance."
Even if your pinkie is killing you.
