The 2021 NFL season will be the fourth chapter in Jon Gruden and Derek Carr’s partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders.
So far, their record has improved with each year.
The Raiders finished 4-12 in 2018, 7-9 the following season, and 8-8 in their first season in Las Vegas.
Carr’s production also increased every year, starting with 4,049 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2018.
He followed that up with 4,054 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2019.
Last season, Carr finished with 4,103 yards and 27 touchdowns with only nine interceptions.
The new season looks promising after they defeated the Baltimore Ravens in a thrilling Monday Night Football encounter.
Carr threw 34 completions for 435 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning pass to Zay Jones in overtime.
His other touchdown was a 10-yard pass to Darren Waller, who finished with 10 catches and 105 yards.
But if that game indicates how the season will unfold, Raiders fans might have to check their blood pressure every week.
It’s that kind of game that elevates one’s heartbeat because of its topsy-turvy nature.
Baltimore struck first with a 35-yard touchdown run by rookie Ty’Son Williams.
Lamar Jackson also completed a 21-yard pass to Williams and a six-yard completion to tight end Mark Andrews during that drive.
The Ravens made it 14-0 in the second quarter when Jackson threw his only touchdown pass to Marquise Brown.
However, the Raiders would finally level the count at 17 via a 15-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs with over nine minutes left in the game.
Both teams traded a touchdown and a field goal to end regulation at 27-all.
With the game still hanging in the balance, that crazy game got even crazier during overtime.
A Thrilling And Pulsating Finish
The Raiders nearly finished the game early in overtime when Carr completed a long pass to Bryan Edwards.
The officials initially called it a touchdown.
Unfortunately, they nullified the score because an official review showed that he did not cross the goal line and that Edwards went down at the one-yard line.
Four plays later, Anthony Averett intercepted Carr’s pass for Willie Snead and fell in the end zone for the touchback.
The Ravens gained 13 yards in the next drive and were looking good to steal the game on the road.
But on third-and-seven at the Baltimore 33-yard-line, Carl Nassib got to Jackson and forced a fumble that Darius Philon recovered at the 27-yard-line.
The Raiders gained new life, and they did not waste the opportunity this time.
Three plays into the game’s final drive, the Ravens showed cover zero on defense.
It’s a formation that brought Las Vegas good fortune last season when Henry Ruggs III sneaked past his defender to score the game-winning touchdown.
Deja vu ensued when Carr found a wide-open Jones on a slant route for the walk-off score, 33-27.
Room For Improvement
Gruden, Carr, and the Raiders will take the victory, but they must address some concerns.
First, they must take care of the ball, and they were lucky that Nassib gave the offense another chance.
Second, they went scoreless in the third quarter, and doing that again may cost them the game.
Third, comebacks will not work all the time, and they were almost too late.
Lastly, they gave Baltimore 189 rushing yards despite having a patchwork backfield.
Improving on those points will give them a better chance of winning on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers next week.
Otherwise, their season can become one long roller coaster ride.
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