Raiders hold on to defeat Lions, 31-24

It wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t pretty. But the Raiders made critical plays when they needed them most to improve their record to 4-4 at the midpoint of their season.

“It was great to get in here — I mean that,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “Our fans were awesome today, and we needed them all.”

Despite giving up 473 yards and more than 125 yards through the air to two receivers, the Raiders’ defense was able to hold its own at the very end. On fourth-and-goal at the Raiders’ 1 with just eight seconds on the clock, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a pass in the back of the end zone to tight end Logan Thomas. But safety Karl Joseph was there to break up the play, securing a Raiders win.

This came after quarterback Derek Carr led the Raiders on a 75-yard drive for a go-ahead touchdown, finding rookie wide receiver Hunter Renfrow with a 9-yard pass with 2:04 left.

While the Raiders are at .500, they have little time to rest. They will play the Chargers on Thursday Night Football this week.

Here are three takeaways from the Raiders’ victory:

1. Carr at his best

Carr took some criticism for his play over the first part of the season. But in this game, he was at his best.

He finished 20-of-31 passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns — good for a 116.2 passer rating. Carr was especially on point late in the fourth quarter after Detroit had tied the game at 24. He connected on consecutive passes to running back Jalen Richard for big gains, before rolling to his left and finding Renfrow in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

“Derek Carr played great,” Gruden said. “He made some great throws, The scramble touchdown to Renfrow was as good as Derek Carr has played since I’ve been here.”

Carr agreed that he’s playing at a high level. He said it’s in large part because of the connection he’s been able to forge with Gruden over the last season and a half.

“I think we’re just seeing the fruits of Coach Gruden and I being together for (some) time,” Carr said.

But Carr’s demeanor was also critical. Left guard Richie Incognito said the quarterback was poised from start to finish on Sunday.

“Derek was a field general,” Incognito said.

2. Taking advantage of takeaways

While the Raiders’ defense was not great Sunday, the unit was able to pick up a pair of critical turnovers.

When Stafford and running back J.D. McKissic fumbled an exchange on a handoff on Detroit’s opening drive, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst picked up the loose ball at the Raiders’ 32. The offense then went 68 yards in 11 plays to cash in with Jacobs’ first touchdown of the game.

Then when cornerback Daryl Worley made a diving interception in the end zone to end a Lions’ scoring threat, the Raiders went 80 yards in 11 plays for Jacobs’ second score of the game.

“We love the takeaways,” Gruden said. “Getting turnovers was a big part of the victory.”

“When the defense gets takeaways, we have to help them out and capitalize,” Carr said. “The emotions of the team — they get a takeaway, we score, it just feels good.”

3. Quick turnaround

The Raiders can’t spend too much time celebrating Sunday’s victory, as the Chargers are coming to town for Thursday Night Football this week.

“We don’t have much time to enjoy this one,” Joseph said.

The Raiders have injury concerns. Right tackle Trent Brown exited, center Rodney Hudson didn’t play and Worley also was unable to finish the game. But the Raiders will have to play with whoever they have against a divisional opponent on Thursday — one that should be riding high after defeating the Packers 26-11 on Sunday.

“This is more of a mental than a physical week,” Incognito said.

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Contact Myles Simmons at msimmons@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Follow @MylesASimmons on Twitter.