Raiders at Buccaneers: 3 things we learned
By John Buhler
The Oakland Raiders defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime on Sunday in Week 8, 30-24. Here are the three biggest takeaways from this NFL game.
The Oakland Raiders continue their winning ways on the road by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime, 30-24. Oakland improves to 6-2 on the season, while Tampa Bay stumbles to 3-4 on the year.
This was one of the most exciting games in the 1:00 PM ET slot on Sunday. It took the longest to complete, but the Raiders were ultimately victorious in overtime. Here are the three biggest takeaways from Oakland’s road win over Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon.
1. Derek Carr is in the NFL MVP conversation.
In only his third NFL season, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr seems to be the next great quarterback. With so many greats having retired or in the twilight of their illustrious careers, the NFL needs a new superstar signal caller.
Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, and Russell Wilson might be that guy, but Carr has the chance to be better than all of them. What he is doing for the 2016 Raiders team is unbelievable. Who starts the season out 5-0 on the road? Oakland hasn’t been to the AFC Playoffs since 2002.
Carr is changing the losing culture in the Bay Area. His team is 6-2 on the year and look the part of an AFC Playoff team. Not only is he playing well, but one can now argue that he might be the NFL MVP through the first eight weeks of the season.
2. Oakland is AFC Championship caliber.
The gold standard in the AFC is the New England Patriots. The next best team in the AFC this season has to be Oakland at the halfway point, right? They don’t lose on the road and no lead is safe from this renegade offense.
Many tabbed the Raiders as a playoff-caliber team in 2016. The Raiders might get a No. 5 or 6 seed in the AFC by finishing 9-7, maybe as good as 10-6. Now this team feels like a lock to win 10 games, maybe as many as 12 this season.
12 wins might be enough to win the tough AFC West this year. Even if Oakland doesn’t win the AFC West, they are the most dangerous team in the AFC not named New England. Winning on the road makes them the likeliest team to play New England in Foxborough in the 2016 AFC Championship.
3. The Buccaneers cannot win games at home.
It’s beginning to be a massive problem with the Buccaneers. This team cannot win games at home. It has been a multi-year problem for this NFL franchise and they are still winless at Raymond James Stadium this season.
Not being able to use a home-field advantage hurts the Buccaneers’ chances to reach the NFC Playoffs. Playoff-caliber teams have to win at home and Tampa Bay is not getting it done on their turf.
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It’s getting so bad, that it’s almost understood to bet against the Buccaneers when they are at home. They actually gave the Raiders a point in the spread this week. Had rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo made that extra point, Tampa Bay would have won the game and might have covered.