While there are a lot of nominees for the league MVP this year, one name really stands out. Derek Carr is easily the best choice to be league MVP even though he didn’t play in all 16 games this year, however, Carr’s reason for not playing was due to injury and not suspension like Brady or Bell. Regardless, Carr is who deserves to be the league MVP this year.
The biggest case for Carr is simple. The Oakland Raiders could not win without Derek Carr. Before his injury, he helped the team get 12 wins. After his injury, the team went 0-2 with two straight losses to the Denver Broncos, who they only were able to score six points against, and the Houston Texans in the playoffs. Â They were trampled by the Houston Texans, 27-14 and had to play their third-string rookie quarterback. Those would have been easy wins with Carr at the helm as they had previously defeated both teams earlier in the season.
The game against the Buffalo Bills was a perfect MVP showing. The team was down by 15 points at the beginning of the third quarter and made a huge comeback mostly due to Carr’s play. He was able to rally the team around him and it brought them a win. His leadership on and off the field has shown especially in his connection with his receivers. Carr, Crabtree, and Cooper always seemed to be on the same page, making them a dynamic trio together.
Carr took a relatively young team and led them to a successful season. Without Carr’s injury, who knows where the Raiders would be today. He has matured as a player, became the face of a dying franchise and gave a team hope for the future. I haven’t even mentioned his stats yet, either! Carr finished this season with almost 4,000 passing yards, 28 touchdowns to 6 interceptions and finished this season with his highest QBR and passer rating.
There’s no way anyone can deny the impact Carr has made this season and how much he has changed the Raiders for the better. Carr for MVP is a no-brainer!
