The Oakland Raiders travel to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13 in what could perhaps be their biggest game of the season if they have aspirations of making the postseason.
Game time temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium are not expected to go above 40 degrees, which is bad news for Derek Carr and the Raiders.
In four career games where temperatures have been that cold, Carr is 0-4, averaging just 152 passing yards per game while completing 51% of his passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions, amounting to a total QBR of 9. Additionally, Carr is 0-5 in his career in Kansas City.
Perhaps no one is more aware of how much Carr has struggled in the cold than his former head coach Jack Del Rio, and he recently let that be known in a media appearance. Carr responded to Del Rio’s comments about his struggles after practice on Wednesday, and joked that it is a team game, via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN:
#Raiders QB @derekcarrqb was asked about @coachdelrio's comment that Carr "hasn't played well in cold weather games." Carr smiled: "Jack was there with me a couple of those times. I used to think this was a team game but yes, it's all my fault and I take full responsibility."
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) November 27, 2019
Carr and Del Rio had a good relationship when the latter was coaching the team and that remains today. Del Rio took to social media to wish Carr luck, although he reminded him one more time that he hasn’t had success in cold weather:
It is definitely a team game and I’m hoping DC comes thru, plays well and helps his team earn a piece of 1st place in the AFC west! But the fact remains he hasn’t played well in cold weather #LetsGo https://t.co/At5vF42t5t
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) November 27, 2019
Carr has the ability to change that narrative this weekend by putting up a strong performance against a Chiefs defense that has largely struggled this season.
With a win, the Raiders can move into a tie atop the AFC West standings, dramatically increasing their chances of reaching the postseason with some easier games to follow.
