Earlier this season, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio described quarterback Derek Carr as “surgeon-like” late in close games.
Over the past two seasons, the third-year quarterback has been money with the game on the line. Going into Monday night’s game against the Houston Texans in Mexico City, Carr had seven fourth-quarter comebacks in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Already this year, he’d led the Raiders to late victories over the Saints, Ravens and Buccaneers.
Now, add the Texans to that list.
Oakland trailed Houston 17-13 entering the fourth quarter, and had been held to just 120 yards in offense. But Carr’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Jamize Olawale and 35-yard strike to Amari Cooper in the final period carried the Raiders to a 27-20 victory. The win gives the Raiders an 8-2 record and puts them alone atop the AFC West, ahead of the 7-3 Chiefs and Broncos.
Carr completed 21-of-31 throws for 295 yards and three TDs, with just one interception.
The Raiders couldn’t get much of a running attack going, with Latavius Murray held to just 33 yards on 12 carries. But Carr was able to torch a Texans secondary that ranked as one of the NFL’s best coming into the game.
Carr spread the ball around, completing five passes to Murray, four to Cooper, three to Olawale, three to rookie Jalen Richard (who had a 17-yard TD catch in the second quarter) and three to Michael Crabtree. Clive Walford (2) and Seth Roberts (1) also had catches.
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The Texans offense was effective, with Brock Osweiler throwing for 243 yards and a TD and running back Lamar Miller gaining 104 yards on the ground.
But in the fourth quarter, the Raiders defense slammed the door and Carr opened up, finding receivers open all over the field to take his team to its fourth straight win in front of a mostly pro-Raiders crowd of 76,743 in Mexico City.
The Raiders return to Oakland this Sunday to host the defending NFC-champion Carolina Panthers. Kickoff is set for 1:25 p.m.
