The Oakland Raiders sure know how to keep games interesting, and they kept true to form Sunday afternoon, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 Sunday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium. The game had many twists and turns as it progressed into an overtime nail-biter, but fortunately, the Silver and Black were able to come away with a win, due to a major contribution from quarterback Derek Carr.
Derek Carr has put up numbers all season, but Sunday the third-year quarterback took his game to another level. The Raiders signal-caller threw a franchise-record 513 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. After his career day, Carr currently ranks fifth in the NFL in passing yards, and is tied for third in passing touchdowns.
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The Raiders have been able to put together a 6-2 record through the first half of the season, after earning just seven wins last season. As a unit, the team is coming together at a good time. Defensive end Khalil Mack has tallied five sacks in the last five games, and the defense has continued its development.
Here's the Week 9 Power Rankings list, brought to you by NFL Extra Points.
Current Ranking: No. 6
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Movement: Up 4
Analysis: Do they win pretty?
Do they put teams away?
No and hell no. But the Raiders spent two weeks in Florida and left with two wins. Who cares how visually pleasing those wins were?
Oakland's biggest opponent doesn't stand on the opposite sideline. It resides in a mirror. Coach Jack Del Rio's team committed a ridiculous 23 penalties in Week 8. Three of them—a personal foul sandwiched by two pass interference calls—ensured the Buccaneers would force overtime.
Oakland persevered through that, so many other fouls and two rare Sebastian Janikowski misses.
Looking forward: There's no quit in this Raiders team, and the AFC West should be afraid. I'm looking at you, Denver.
Current Ranking: No. 6
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Movement: Up 5
Analysis: The Raiders are off to their best eight-game start since 2001, despite allowing the second-most yards per game and committing the most penalties. QB Derek Carr has kept the Raiders afloat, throwing 16 of his 17 touchdowns with the score within eight points (most in the NFL).
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NFL.com**
Current Ranking: No. 9
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Movement: Up 2
Analysis: Started to type this Raiders blurb, but got off to a false start. Only Oakland could outgain its opponent 626 to 270 -- SIX HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX to 270 -- and need 74 minutes to win the game. In case you were at Home Depot (holding some extension cables) or a bar (interfering with your buddy's pass at the cute server), your Oakland Raiders set an NFL record with 23 accepted penalties. Of course, Derek Carr mitigated all that with one of the all-time games by a Raider QB. Just win, baby.
Current Ranking: No. 8
Previous Ranking: No. 9
Movement: Up 1
Analysis: The Raiders are in a great spot, but also a strange spot. They're 6-2 but tied in the loss column with two other AFC West teams. Even at 6-2 it doesn't seem like they have much room for error. Next Sunday night's home game against the Broncos is enormous for them.
Current Ranking: No. 4
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Movement: Up 6
Analysis: If they want to be taken seriously, they need a signature win. The next chance for one comes on Sunday night.
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Current Ranking: No. 8
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Movement: Up 2
Analysis: The Raiders are one of the best offensive teams in football. The problem is, they also boast one of the absolute worst defenses and have discipline issues across the board. If Jack Del Rio and the coaching staff can get Oakland back on track and avoid committing double-digit penalties each week, they'll become serious contenders.
Current Ranking: No. 6
Previous Ranking: No. 9
Movement: Up 3
Analysis: Derek Carr was special at Tampa Bay. Now he has to try to replicate that against that Denver defense.
Current Ranking: No. 9
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Movement: Up 2
Analysis: Derek Carr is deservedly commanding much of resurgent Raiders' attention. But watch out for Khalil Mack, who has five sacks in last five games.
