OAKLAND, Calif. — Derek Carr threw a nine-yard landing move to rookie Hunter Renfrow with 2:04 left and Karl Joseph broke up a fourth-down move in the long run zone with three seconds to play to provide the Raiders a 31-24 victory towards the Lions on Sunday of their first recreation again in Oakland in seven weeks.
After surviving an odyssey that compelled them to journey about 20,000 miles for 4 street video games and a neutral-site recreation in London, the Raiders (4-4) got here again residence for the primary time since shedding to the Chiefs on Sept. 15. They placed on fairly a present for the followers who’re hoping the Raiders can put collectively a profitable season earlier than their deliberate transfer to Las Vegas subsequent 12 months.
Carr’s clutch move to Renfrow gave Oakland the win to begin the essential three-game homestand. Carr additionally linked with rookie Foster Moreau on a three-yard rating within the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, and one other rookie, Josh Jacobs, ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns. It was the primary time because the merger that the Raiders bought 4 touchdowns from rookies in a single recreation.
Matthew Stafford threw for 406 yards and three touchdowns however got here up quick on the finish because the Lions (3-4-1) misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games.
Stafford moved Detroit right down to the 1 within the closing seconds. On the Lions’ remaining play, he threw the ball up for tight finish Logan Thomas, however Joseph was there to forestall the catch, sealing the victory for the Raiders.
“I give a lot of credit to [Joseph],” Thomas mentioned. “He made the play. I thought I had a good shot. I feel personally that I should be able to make the play.”
Carr threw for 289 yards and linked on passes of 31 and 23 yards to Jalen Richard on the game-winning drive. Then with Oakland dealing with a 3rd down, Carr scrambled to increase the play earlier than discovering Renfrow within the entrance nook of the tip zone.
‘‘I saw it in [Carr’s] eyes immediately,” Richard mentioned. “It’s in his eyes all the time, but in times where you really, really need it, you just look at him, and you just see that greatness coming, and you’re like, ‘OK, he’s going to give us an opportunity, so we got to make the plays.’ ”
The offenses dominated the primary three quarters with neither staff punting throughout that stretch. The Raiders went forward 24-17 on Carr’s move to Moreau early within the fourth quarter.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Lions linebacker Devon Kennard mentioned. “The previous couple of weeks have been on us defensively. I really feel like if we’d play higher defensively, we’d be in a a lot better place.
‘‘But you can’t panic. It’s midway by means of the season. We’ve bought eight extra video games left, plenty of ball to be performed. I consider within the guys on this locker room. We need to get this fastened. It begins with protection, controlling what you may management. Once we try this, we’ll be all proper.”