The Oakland Raiders were nothing short of impressive after posting a 12-4 record and a playoff berth during the 2016 NFL season. Their efforts surprised most analysts and fans alike and the team has some momentum heading into the 2017 season.
Plenty of the team’s success can be attributed to quarterback Derek Carr and his high level of play throughout the season. Behind Carr, the team posted an exciting top-10 offense capitalized by gutsy fourth down plays and other risky plays. The signal-caller was playing at an MVP level before breaking his fibula and according to Nick Hjeltness of Just Blog Baby, Carr fell fairly short of earning the honor:
Carr tied for third, which is still something to be proud of. Matt Ryan ran away with the award, thanks to his statistically impressive resume.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan garnered 25 votes while New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady received 10. Carr and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott each received six votes each, which is not too bad considering the former was unable to finish the season. However, Carr should be in the running again next year barring any future injuries or setbacks.
Carr had a career year this past season, posting a 63.8 percent completion rate and throwing for 3,937 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was on pace to surpass his 2015 campaign totals before going down with his injury, showing that he is still improving. Carr’s late-game execution was also impressive as he became the first NFL player with five game-winning touchdown passes.
After the Raiders finally ended a playoff appearance drought against the Houston Texans, Carr should be ready to make a strong case for MVP next season.
