OAKLAND -- The Oakland Raiders could have simply played the odds and tried to go to overtime.
Yet, this is Derek Carr's team. Interim coach Tony Sparano told the rookie quarterback that on his first day on the job and made the proclamation publicly last week. The Raiders showed they believed in Carr late Sunday. They gave him the chance to go win the game.
Why not?
This is a franchise that hasn't won since last November and the kid was hot. Despite being limited in practice all week by knee and ankle injuries, Carr threw four touchdown passes against a stout San Diego defense. The desperate Raiders gave him a chance for a fifth touchdown pass.
The pass didn't work, but the move said a lot about what the Raiders think of the young quarterback.
With Oakland trailing by three with a first down on the Chargers' 45-yard line, Carr threw a deep pass intended for Brice Butler. Chargers rookie cornerback Jason Verrett made a great read and intercepted it at the 5-yard line, securing a 31-28 win with 1:13 to go.
Yes, the Raiders could have played conservatively and gotten into field-goal range. But Sunday was about Sparano and offensive coordinator Greg Olson taking the leash off Carr, the second-round pick from Fresno State.
Carr came into the game averaging 5.7 yards per throw and Oakland's average yards-per-play was 4.74. In the first quarter of his rookie season, Carr mostly threw short, high-percentage passes. That changed in a hurry Sunday. On Oakland's first possession, Carr hit Andre Holmes on a bomb that went 73 yards for a touchdown. It was the first touchdown San Diego allowed on the first possession of a game this season.
When he replaced fired coach Dennis Allen, Sparano told Carr he was not a rookie anymore. He told him he'd have to lead. The Raiders gave him some leeway with the responsibility. For the most part, Carr delivered.
Yes, the way the game ended was a stinger for Oakland. But, the Raiders trusted Carr to go win the game in the final minute and the move could pay dividends.
Surely, the Raiders aren't going to be upset with Carr's demeanor after the loss. He had the necessary NFL-quarterback swagger to say, "I'd do it 100 times," Carr said.
"Just trying to find a one-on-one," he explained. "Going into it, they played quarters right there to that side, if I'm not mistaken. Again, I'll have to see the film, but it seemed like it. Brice had a double-move, so we knew he would have a one-on-one and so, I pumped it, the safety was not in the play, I wasn't worried about the safety so I was just giving Brice a chance there."
Added Sparano: "The kid is a competitive kid. He's just getting better and better and better. ...You can see it today with what he did."
Carr finished 18-for-34 for 282 yards and four TDs. Two of the touchdown passes were for 40-plus yards. The Raiders showed they can have success with Carr when giving him a chance to air it out.
Expect Oakland to lean on Carr more and more as the season progresses. That's what a team does when a quarterback shows he is up to the challenge as Carr did Sunday -- even in a close defeat.
