Oakland Raiders: Can We Go Ahead And Stop With The Circular Firing Squad?

The Oakland Raiders suffered a big blow in losing Derek Carr for the postseason run to injury – but really, can we cease and desist with this circular firing squad?

It was the break heard ’round the Nation. Oakland Raiders franchise quarterback Derek Carr suffered a broken fibula with just about eleven minutes to play when Indianapolis Colts linebacker Trent Cole got loose and sacked him awkwardly. It was a blow that’s left the vaunted Raider Nation stunned and upset even days after the fact.

Of course, it’s also had the predictable outcome from some corners – the formation of circular firing squads. Carr hadn’t even limped off the field when social media was lit up by fans calling for HC Jack Del Rio and OC Bill Musgrave‘s head for having Carr in the game in the first place. We’re quite sure both Del Rio and Musgrave were burned in effigy in multiple cities around the world.

The argument common to most who are clamoring for blood is, “Why was Carr even in the game with eleven minutes to play, up by nineteen points?”

While some may see that as a valid question, the better question to be asking is – why wouldn’t he be?

Nothing was locked down yet. That game was not out of reach for an offense that can strike as quickly as Andrew Luck and Indianapolis’ can. Yes, up nineteen with eleven minutes to play sounds like an insurmountable lead. Right?

But given the fact that Oakland won by just eight points – one score – it wasn’t nearly as insurmountable as some make it out to be.

“Yeah,” the counter-argument will begin, “but Indy only got within one score after Carr was hurt. If he’d been pulled, the Colts never would have gotten that close.”

Correct us if we’re wrong, but last we checked, Carr doesn’t play defense. Carr isn’t tasked with stopping the run or defending the pass. And that defense gave up ten fourth quarter points which got Indianapolis back into the game.

When asked about leaving Carr in the game in that situation, Del Rio said:

"“When you end up looking at the final score, we won by eight points; we won by one score basically. Andrew Luck, people here in the Bay Area, I think, have a pretty good understanding of what he is capable of. I know I do. We felt like you had to keep the pedal down on that opponent, that quarterback in that game. You’re talking about a team facing elimination. We knew we were going to get everything they had to close the game anyway they could, and we were prepared for that.”"

It’s an explanation that isn’t going to satisfy the most outraged among us, but it’s the reality of the situation. Indianapolis has an offense that can put up points in a hurry, and if your defense can’t slow them down, you’re going to need your offensive playmakers to step up and answer the bell.

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It’s a really unfortunate situation and – pardon the unintended pun – a really bad break. But as they say, it is what it is. Carr wouldn’t have wanted to come out in that situation. He, like the rest of the team, would have wanted to finish what they’d started and see the game through.

The Raiders still had – and still have – much to play for. Their playoff position is still in flux. They can still go anywhere from the AFC’s top seed, all the way down to the AFC’s fifth seed. Unless New England stumbles next week, the Raiders will be playing for the second seed, a first round bye, and a home playoff game.

Or – they could fall all the way down to the AFC’s fifth seed and have to play wild card weekend on the road.

With stakes like that still up for grabs, the question posed earlier still applies – why wouldn’t Carr still be on the field to close out the game?

Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. It’s always easy to second guess a decision when you’re looking back at it. And of course, it’s probably human nature to want to lash out and pin the blame on somebody when something so obviously catastrophic happens.

People are upset and want to find somebody to put it on, but this isn’t Del Rio’s fault. This isn’t Musgrave’s fault. It was a football injury that happened on a football play. No more and no less.

But really, calling for Musgrave and/or Del Rio’s heads and jobs in the wake of Carr’s injury – otherwise known as the circular firing squad – is a bit over the top. Some might even say – ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that it helps nobody.

Next: Patience With The Defense Paying Off

The Raiders have been committed to seeing things through to the bitter end this season and the game against the Colts is no different. Carr is an absolute competitor and he would not have wanted to come out of that game with the stakes still so high and so much still left undone.

What happened to Carr is a big, big blow to this Raiders team. But really, the team is still 12-3, still has the talent to make some noise in the playoffs, and has a lot of good things going for it. Losing Carr is going to hurt, but it isn’t necessarily the death knell for this team in the postseason.

So, can we stop with the circular firing squad, stop calling for Del Rio and Musgrave to be tarred and feathered, and rally around the team?