WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

December 13, 2018 at 12:54 am.

–Quarterback Derek Carr, who has not thrown an interception in his last eight games, completed 25 of 34 passes (73.5 percent) for 322 yards and two touchdowns for a 122.4 passer rating in leading the Raiders to a come-from-behind, 24-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Carr hit backup tight ends Lee Smith and Derek Carrier for touchdowns in the last 5:20 and has at least two TD throws, a completion percentage of more than 70 percent and a 120-plus passer rating in his last two games. Carr leads the AFC and ranks fifth in the NFL with a completion percentage of 69.5 percent (317 of 456)

–Running back Doug Martin, who took over as the starter when Marshawn Lynch went out for the season because of a groin injury, scored a rushing touchdown for the third straight game against the Steelers, a one-yard run on the first possession of the game. Even though the Raiders have been behind in most of their games and been forced to mostly go to the air, Martin leads the Raiders with 477 yards on 121 carriers (a 3.9-yard average) and those three touchdowns.

–Running back Jalen Richard ranks second among AFC running backs with 57 catches for 483 receiving yards and has 238 yards rushing on 44 carries, a 5.4-yard average.

–Tight end Jared Cook made seven catches for 116 yards last week after having seven for 100 the week before. For the season, he leads the Raiders with 61 catches for 825 yards and six touchdowns, including three in the last four games.

–Linebacker Tahir Whitehead had a team-high 10 tackles, two passes defended and an interception last week against the Steelers and leads the Raiders with 104 total tackles this season, including 74 unassisted and eight tackles for losses.

BY THE NUMBERS: 16 — Number of game-winning drives quarterback Derek Carr has engineered in his five-year career, including seven when the Raiders went 12-4 two years ago, and three this season for all of Oakland’s victories. Last Sunday, he drove the Raiders 75 yards in eight plays and hit third-string tight end Derek Carrier on six-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 21 seconds left to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-21.