Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had a big game today, and 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not.
It wasn’t all about the quarterbacks, but the biggest takeaway from Oakland’s upset win over San Francisco is that Carr looks like just the kind of bright young quarterback the Raiders hoped they were drafting this year, while Kaepernick looks like he’s regressed.
Carr was poised, confident, accurate and efficient as he completed 22 of 28 passes for 254 yards, with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Carr also seems more in control of the offense than most rookies, capable of changing plays at the line and catching the opposing defense off guard. This was an impressive performance.
But Kaepernick, who threw two interceptions and was sacked five times, looked out of sync for most of the game. The 49ers had three delay of game penalties because Kaepernick repeatedly struggled to get his signals called in time, and Kaepernick’s passes often missed the mark.
The loss drops the 49ers to 7-6 and makes it a near certainty that they won’t be going to the playoffs. In fact, the biggest question now isn’t whether the 49ers will make the postseason, but whether Jim Harbaugh is already checked out and looking for his next job.
Some people think his next job will be in Oakland, as head coach of the Raiders. If so, he may just have a better quarterback in Oakland next year than he has in San Francisco now.