OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – After getting a rude introduction to the NFL after losing their first 10 games as rookies in 2014, Derek Carr and Khalil Mack have put the Oakland Raiders at the top of the AFC just two years later.
Carr came back from an injured pinkie to lead another fourth-quarter comeback and Mack had an interception return for a touchdown and a game-sealing strip sack that led Oakland to a 35-32 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
The Raiders (9-2) won their fifth straight game to remain tied atop the AFC with New England and are assured of a winning record for the first time since 2002.
“We’ve come a long way,” Mack said. “Even then you can’t really think about the past. All you can really focus on is stacking these wins up. That’s all we really care about as a team.”
Mack and Carr are the biggest reasons for the turnaround and for the latest win against the Panthers (4-7). But it didn’t come easy despite the fact that Mack gave Oakland a 24-7 lead with an interception return for a score late in the first half.