Derek Carr

Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) torched the Raiders for 225 all-purpose yards during Oakland’s heartbreaking 38-35 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Del Rio: Defense went ‘backward’

After watching Antonio Brown, DeAngelo Williams and the rest of the Pittsburgh…

Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) torched the Raiders for 225 all-purpose yards during Oakland’s heartbreaking 38-35 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) kneels in the end zone after making a touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)

Late rally not enough as Raiders fall to Steelers 38-35

PITTSBURGH — The Oakland Raiders are no longer pushovers. The evidence came…

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper (89) kneels in the end zone after making a touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar)
Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Will Allen (20) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Raiders not ready for prime time yet

As much as the Raiders and their fans like to dream, what…

Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs the ball past Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Will Allen (20) in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (Ben Margot/AP)

Crabtree has last laugh with Raiders

Michael Crabtree’s resurrection this season has caught many people around the NFL…

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) reacts after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (Ben Margot/AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper runs on his way to scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 25, 2015, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)

Cooper: ‘I can play so much better’

The decadelong search for a game-breaking wide receiver in Oakland has ended,…

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper runs on his way to scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 25, 2015, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree against the New York Jets in Oakland on Sunday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Carr throws 4 TD passes to lead Raiders past Jets 34-20

OAKLAND — A year after entering November in search of their first…

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree against the New York Jets in Oakland on Sunday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree shakes free of Jets linebacker Demario Davis for a 36-yard touchdown Sunday. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Just dream, baby: Raiders in playoffs?

This was a day to belt out “Hells Bells,” come on like…

Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree shakes free of Jets linebacker Demario Davis for a 36-yard touchdown Sunday. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper runs on his way to scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)

Raiders search for quality win

Now that the Raiders appear to be competitive again, whispers have started…

Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper runs on his way to scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in San Diego. (Denis Poroy/AP)
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie says he’s not the least bit surprised by the breakout season quarterback Derek Carr is having. (Elaine Thompson/AP)

McKenzie’s process finally bears fruit

After enduring three years of losing as he tore down and then…

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie says he’s not the least bit surprised by the breakout season quarterback Derek Carr is having. (Elaine Thompson/AP)
Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper, center, changes direction en route to a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Raiders changing their narrative

From strong coverage on the opening kick to an interception by Malcolm…

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Amari Cooper, center, changes direction en route to a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Despite the Warriors’ impressive championship run last season, Charles Barkley continues to believe the jumpshooting Dubs are incapable of coming out on top in the immensely talented Western Conference. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Warriors can exhale, Barkley picks Thunder

On the the eve of their season opener, the Warriors received some…

Despite the Warriors’ impressive championship run last season, Charles Barkley continues to believe the jumpshooting Dubs are incapable of coming out on top in the immensely talented Western Conference. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Call it The Step — Amari Cooper’s pivot move that led to a 52-yard touchdown Sunday in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

The ‘Coooop!’ show … in L.A.’s backyard

SAN DIEGO — The divot is still kicking up from where Amari…

Call it The Step — Amari Cooper’s pivot move that led to a 52-yard touchdown Sunday in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
Coming out of a bye week, a healthy Latavius Murray will look to get Oakland back on track when they face the division-rival San Diego Chargers. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Time for Murray to elevate game

The Raiders hope their sporadic running game can finally find some consistency…

Coming out of a bye week, a healthy Latavius Murray will look to get Oakland back on track when they face the division-rival San Diego Chargers. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)
Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) reacts with long snapper Jon Condo (59) after kicking a point after try during the game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Janikowski set the franchise record for games played with No. 241 against Denver. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Carr’s late INT sends Raiders to 16-10 loss to Broncos

OAKLAND — Charles Woodson and the Oakland defense kept putting the team…

Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski (11) reacts with long snapper Jon Condo (59) after kicking a point after try during the game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Janikowski set the franchise record for games played with No. 241 against Denver. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is left to walk away as Denver’s Chris Harris Jr. celebrates his 74-yard interception return for a touchdown Sunday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Woodson leads, Raiders can’t follow

They call him “First Ballot,” for obvious reasons, because whenever Charles Woodson…

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is left to walk away as Denver’s Chris Harris Jr. celebrates his 74-yard interception return for a touchdown Sunday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr smiles as he talks to his teammates on the sideline during a game against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 4, 2015. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)

Carr can make statement … to Manning

To describe Sunday as a monumental event or some passing of a…

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr smiles as he talks to his teammates on the sideline during a game against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 4, 2015. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for a receiver during the game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Raiders squander big chance

At least Raiders’ fans can watch the games from start to finish…

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for a receiver during the game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Oakland Raiders running back Roy Helu (26) celebrates a touchdown with center Rodney Hudson (61) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Road woes return for Raiders in 22-20 loss at Chicago

CHICAGO — Derek Carr was just OK on Sunday. Amari Cooper was…

Oakland Raiders running back Roy Helu (26) celebrates a touchdown with center Rodney Hudson (61) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
From left, running back Latavius Murray, quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper have quickly elevated the Raiders’ offensive attack this season. (David Richard, Aaron Josefczyk/AP)

Raiders offer new ‘Triplets’

The Raiders have spent most of the past decade searching for big-play…

From left, running back Latavius Murray, quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper have quickly elevated the Raiders’ offensive attack this season. (David Richard, Aaron Josefczyk/AP)
Second-year quarterback Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders have received high praises across the country, but only time will tell if there success is sustainable. (David Richard/AP)

Dare we say, America’s Team?

To describe the Raiders as likeable is to venture through some parallel…

Second-year quarterback Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders have received high praises across the country, but only time will tell if there success is sustainable. (David Richard/AP)