Nov 21, 2016; Mexico City, MEX; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and linebacker Khalil Mack (52) celebrate after a NFL International Series game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca. The Raiders defeated the Texans 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Pride and Poise in the Oakland Raiders organization is back with Top-2 2014 draft picks Khalil Mack and Derek Carr.
Pride and Poise has long been one of the Oakland Raiders’ mantras. But Raiders fans went a long time without seeing those two things displayed on the field. Not since 2002 has that brand of football been on display for the NFL world.
It’s the brand that saw the Raiders in more games with names that any other franchise. The Heidi Bowl, Sea of Hands, Holy Roller and unfortunately, the Tuck Rule and Immaculate Reception are among them. The Raiders have been in a lot of high-stakes, high-drama games.
In 2014, quarterback Derek Carr and edge rusher Khalil Mack were drafted to bring it all back. Shortly after, they made a pact to change the state Raiders were in and bring back the old brand. They would have to lead the team that was built around them.
Now in Year 3, the two have become superstars. While Mack is an NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Carr is an NFL Most Valuable Player candidate. Their play, especially in the clutch, has the Raiders at 10-2 and exemplifies Pride and Poise.
Turn the page for a look at it.
December 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for a receiver in front of Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Jerry Hughes (55) during the first quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Derek Carr
When Carr was a rookie, he actually out-Bradyed New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Down 16-9, Carr drove the Raiders in for the potential game-winning or tying score. But a bogus holding penalty took away Darren McFadden’s 6-yard TD run.
Shortly after, Carr bounced a pass right off Denarius Moore’s chest and it was intercepted. What Carr did in New England with Brady on the sideline showed his poise. He just needed more around him he managed one 4th-quarter comeback that year.
Skip to 2016 and Carr has 11 4th-quarter comebacks since 2014, the most in the NFL. He has six this year to tie with Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for the league’s lead. Carr also has the highest 4th-quarter quarterback rating in the NFL.
Against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, he threw a record fifth game-winning TD passes in the fourth quarter or overtime. His numbers for the season are right up there with the best QBs in the NFL. But it’s his clutchness that makes him such a strong MVP candidate.
Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) reacts after recovering a forced fumble against the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Khalil Mack
As a rookie, Mack was among the league’s leaders in pressures but only had four sacks. With opposing teams running the clock out on him, he didn’t have enough opportunities. But Mack had a sack in three of the five games that were close at the end.
In 2015, the Raiders started playing in close games with Carr engineering 4th-quarter comebacks. Mack had 15 sacks that year with more chances to rush the passer in close games. This year, he still comes through to make Carr’s 4th-quarter heroics hold up.
So far this year, he has 10 and he’s been clutch with 2-straight sack-fumbles and recoveries to close games. The Raiders faced 10 drives at the end of regulation or overtime leading by eight or less points. And they allowed no points, preserving each win.
Mack has been a huge part of those 4th-quarter stops. Sunday was his second game in a row with a sack-fumble and recovery to preserve a win. Since 2015, no other NFL player has more 4th-Qtr sacks (11.0), forced fumbles (4) or fumble recoveries (3).
Nov 21, 2016; Mexico City, MEX; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and linebacker Khalil Mack (52) celebrate after a NFL International Series game against the Houston Texans at Estadio Azteca. The Raiders defeated the Texans 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Bottom Line
This is Year three, when we see who and what the players in the 2014 NFL Draft class are. It looks like the Raiders got two No. 1 overall picks for the price of a No. 5 and a No. 36 overall. Each one of them have the traits that deceased owner Al Davis loved.
Mack has the amazing combination of speed, power and agility to make the quarterback “go down hard.” Carr has the big arm and pinpoint accuracy to “take what we want” and go deep on first down. And to go with all that, they have that will to win.
Like the old-school Raiders, they had a flair for the dramatic. Carr, even when he doesn’t look good, takes the team down the field to score and win the game when he has the chance. The team knows the game is not over when they are behind with Carr on the field.
Mack can have a bare stat-line with the other team driving for the winning score. But his team knows that the game is actually over at that time. Mack will wreck the drive with pressures to force incompletions and interceptions or get that sack-fumble and recovery.
That is Raider football, where they win no matter how it looks!
That is Pride and Poise!
Just win baby!
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