Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Derek Carr got his first win in Kansas City on Sunday as the Raiders shocked the defending champion Chiefs, 40-32 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Carr had his best passing day in Kansas City ever, racking up 347 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Raiders’ defense also stepped up, forcing three straight punts and an interception in the second half to allow the offense to build a lead.
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) loses his helmet as he tackles Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and fullback Alec Ingold (45) shake hands during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. The Raiders won 40-32. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is pursued by Nick Kwiatkoski #44 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Clelin Ferrell #96 of the Las Vegas Raiders wraps up Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) rolls out against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scores a rushing touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Darren Waller #83 of the Las Vegas Raiders fails to catch a pass against Rashad Fenton #27 and Damien Wilson #54 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Taco Charlton (94) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) watch from the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. The Raiders won 40-32. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland (21) loses his helmet as he tackles Las Vegas Raiders fullback Alec Ingold (45) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders snaps the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) signals against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, center, is sacked by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, rear and defensive end Arden Key (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scores a rushing touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scores on a 3-yard touchdown run ahead of Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeff Heath (38) and cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands off to running back Josh Jacobs (28)during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws under pressure against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) runs from Kansas City Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen (49) after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws under pressure from Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chris Smith (92) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left, catches a pass ahead of Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Las Vegas Raiders is congratulated by Rico Gafford #10 after a 72-yard touchdown reception against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Johnathan Abram #24 of the Las Vegas Raiders is called for a face-mask penalty after a 23-yard reception by Byron Pringle #13 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) catches a pass as Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders safety Johnathan Abram (24) and safety Jeff Heath (38) break up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) and quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrate during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders strong safety Johnathan Abram (24) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) runs from Las Vegas Raiders inside linebacker Cory Littleton (42) after a catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle (13) tries to break free from Las Vegas Raiders strong safety Johnathan Abram (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders hands the ball off to Devontae Booker #23 against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Las Vegas Raiders catches a 46-yard pass against Rashad Fenton #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) celebrates after the Raiders scored a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs from Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) catches a pass over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) celebrates with teammate Darren Waller, right, after catching a 59-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) tries to break a tackle by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) hands off to running back Josh Jacobs (28)during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) catches a pass over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Rashad Fenton (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders hands the ball off to Josh Jacobs #28 against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III celebrates a first down after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Johnathan Abram #24 and Jeff Heath #38 of the Las Vegas Raiders defend a pass attempt to Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – OCTOBER 11: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a touchdown pass Sammy Watkins (not pictured) under pressure from Erik Harris #25 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Bashaud Breeland intercepts a pass over Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs from Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) catches a 59-yard touchdown pass ahead of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward (35) and safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) catches a pass over Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) avoids Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) tries to break a tackle by Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) celebrates with teammate Darren Waller (83) after catching a 59-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
CLICK HERE if you’re having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device.
Here’s what Carr and head coach Jon Gruden had to say after the win (quotes provided by the Chiefs organization):
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden
“I am really proud of our team. We beat a really good football team obviously. Playing shorthanded without Maliek (Collins) and without (Nicholas Morrow) inside … we had a lot of guys step up and play hard and finish.”
On whether the win is validation: “We think we have been playing pretty good honestly. We played well in the opener. We played well against the Saints. Hell, we played pretty good at spurts in New England on a short week and I thought we played pretty good against Buffalo outside of some critical errors. We are getting better. We are finding ways to move the ball and we got some stops when we needed them, but we still have a long way to go.”
On the team’s mentality: “(Mike) Mayock and his staff bringing in some guys that have a real edge to them. They really like to compete no matter what the score is. If you look at the way we finished in New England, we scored at the end. It was meaningless to a lot of people, but we did the same thing against Buffalo. We keep fighting and that is a great ingredient I think on winning teams. Obviously, we do have some skill. We have some more speed on offense which showed up today. Defensively, we are still a work in progress. We are missing (Damon) Arnette and some defensive linemen and that is a tough sled against the offenses that we are playing.”
On the defensive line: “I think if you look at the numbers of scrambles that (Patrick) Mahomes had today, the effort that we had to have to try and get him. I know we didn’t do a great job of getting him on the ground, but this is as hard as it gets. You don’t have many substitutes available. All we had was five or six guys left and Mahomes is a great scrambler. He made us pay several times today, but it was enough in the end. I am really proud of our guys finishing the game. Chris Smith, Datone Jones came up off the practice squad. It was their debut today and thank God we had them.”
On Henry Ruggs: “Well, yeah, we did not bring him in here to run hitch routes. We can really run, and I think we have to be better about getting him the ball in other areas because he is a great route runner. Nelson Agholor again shows up. We are getting a lot of contributions which is taking pressure off of (Darren) Waller, and we are able to use a lot of eligible receivers every week and Derek (Carr) is doing a great job of playing quarterback.”
On Carr not being phased by his interception: “I give Derek a lot of credit. He has been through a lot here as a Raider. This is certainly a big win for him, but hopefully we have a lot more big wins ahead of him. I just hope that everybody in Las Vegas that is a Raider fan is excited about the young players that we had out there today and we sure look forward to having them in our stands too.”
On Trent Brown’s return: “Well he is All-Pro. He is an All-Pro right tackle and when you are a right handed quarterback, a lot of people say you put your money man on your left side. We have Kolton Miller, who has been playing great football for us. When you have a guy like Trent playing at a high level on the right side, it makes things a lot easier in the pocket, not that anything is easy. He need him, and we will see how he feels after the game. I am sure he is very sore. We got a lot of injuries to look at here during the bye.”
On going for it on fourth down: “We just did not want to give Mahomes another crack at it. I marveled at a lot of the plays that Derek made. I certainly marvel at what Mahomes is able to do. A lot of his offense is unscripted. It is completely creative, and it is all created by him. Thank God we do not have to see them for a few weeks.”
On confidence: “I hope we gain confidence. We got to get some players back healthy. We got Tom Brady coming in here next week. We have seen Drew Brees. We have seen Cam Newton. We have seen one of the hottest quarterbacks in (Josh) Allen, now we have seen Mahomes. We have already seen (Teddy) Bridgewater. We need to get healthy. We need to stay focused and be true to ourselves. We can still get better. We are going to have to get better if we are going to stay in the hunt.”
On the supporting cast around Carr: “I don’t know. I just think he is a really good player honestly. I have been saying it. We are getting better around him. You know Ruggs is here. Agholor is here. (Josh) Jacobs is in his second year and he is healthy. He missed the last five or six games last season and I think you are seeing more of Alec Ingold in situations. Obviously, Derek is an excellent quarterback. I don’t know what measured means, but when you score points and win on the road that is a great tribute to your quarterback.”
On playcalling: “We tried to be aggressive. We threw down the field today, and some of the Pro Football Focus statisticians will have to scratch their heads because they are going to have to figure out if he really did that. Ruggs is healthy and he is just going to go down the field. We tried to get Waller a couple of times, but you can’t always throw it down the field. They have Chris Jones and Frank Clark and honey badger (Tyrann Mathieu). I am just happy that Derek got a big win as a starting quarterback and so did our young football team when it did not look real good early.”
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr
On his history at Arrowhead: “I’ve taken a lot of sad walks up that ramp, you see what I’m saying. But, not today. I’m going to enjoy this one.”
On a possible rivalry with Chiefs: “I think we’re back. I think we’re back a little bit. Of course, that’ll get posted somewhere but I hope it doesn’t. I hope they get my whole quote and say, ‘It’s the World Champs, man.” What we were able to do today, lose two in a row, go to play the World Champs and be able to score some points and our defense getting the stops. I hope they give (defensive coordinator Paul) Guenther credit for it. He had a tough week. I’ve had tough weeks around here too. It is what it is. It’s a part of the business. But yeah, I think again, we have to be able to win football games against these guys to make a rivalry. We hadn’t done that in a long time. I know everyone talks about the history and all of that stuff. George Atkinson talked about it to the team yesterday in a team meeting. We have to make it a rivalry, and we have to win games like this to make it like that.”
On the offense: “We knew we were going to come in and be aggressive and I’m thankful to Coach (Gruden) for that. Obviously, we talk about things all the time, but when you’re really healthy, the full offense is open. We can do everything that we want to do. Really proud of our guys and the plays they made down the field because that backs people up and allows us to let Josh (Jacobs), Book (Devontae Booker) and Jalen (Richard), let our backs eat and let our offensive line get downhill and run after people. So, so pumped with the way the game was played.”
On accountability: “It’s good to have effort, it’s good to play hard, it’s good to have football character but without doing your job, it’s really just a good pat on the back. We are in a production-oriented business where we have to win football games. We’re sitting there, we lose two. We lose against the Patriots, we lose against the Bills and now the world champions are staring you in the face where you haven’t won a game, I think for our organization, correct me if I’m wrong guys, but seven or eight years. You sit there and you’re like, ‘What better opportunity?’ You know what I’m saying? What better opportunity? We’ve been punched in the mouth. What better opportunity to see what this team is made out of? I’ve been trying to tell you guys, I know I’m always optimistic, but I’ve been trying to tell you guys that this team, the football character on this team is legit.”
On Henry Ruggs: “It reminds me just of the threats, not just Ruggs, but Nelson (Agholor) and the other threats that I had in college where when we took the field, it didn’t really matter the coverage they were going to play because everyone can win. To have that feeling that the safety bit because they probably were running a little choice route, the safety bites down. There’s a lot of things that go into a victory but to have the knowledge as a quarterback to know that you have a guy who runs a 4.1, 4.2 and to know the knowledge that not only that he knows what route to run but if we get the look, he can win. Having that confidence, it doesn’t matter what’s going on with anything else. If I just sit there and make my read, we have a chance to make that play. As it unfolds and you throw the ball, it’s like, ‘Man, I like this. Man, it’s a good feeling.’ It’s where the ball has to go and on top of that, it’s a guy who you know can go get that thing. The separation he had on that was impressive to say the least.”
On validation: “I threw the interception, but again, we came into it saying we were going to be aggressive. The guy made a heck of a play running with our post and then falling off. That kind of stuff is going to happen. It’s football. When you come into a game with a very aggressive mindset, sometimes that is going to happen. Guys are going to fall off. I threw an interception here last year where the read took me to a certain route and then the Honey Badger (Tyrann Mathieu) fell off and picked it off. Things happen. The thing that I love about this team is that it didn’t matter. We knew the game plan coming into it, we knew what we were capable of. I think at one point it was 14-3 and in past years, it’s like, ‘Jeez, we’re in a big hole.’ But now it’s like, ‘We can do this in just a few plays.’ The confidence. We’ve got to see these guys again at our place and again, it’s going to be a brutal battle like it always is. We’re looking forward to that. Right now, we’re going to enjoy this, get healthy on the bye week. I’m going to spend some time with my wife and my kids.”
On the Raiders fans at Arrowhead: “It was actually really nice because I started hearing Raider chants throughout the game for the first time in this stadium. It was awesome. First time playing with fans and obviously, we miss our fans. I miss our fans. There’s nothing like a Raider home game, I know some of you know that. It’s different. The rowdiness, the college atmosphere we have. For some of our fans to travel out here, the knowledge and wisdom to know that this would be our first game with fans, they showed up. They showed up, man. It was awesome to hear those Raider chants going on in Arrowhead. It was pretty cool.”
