OAKLAND — It was a long-forgotten play with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter. The Raiders trailed the Kansas City Chiefs by a touchdown, and had a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line.
Derek Carr dropped back, saw Jordy Nelson being covered in the left corner of the end zone, and then flung it deliberately out of bounds. One play later, Carr threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Marcell Ateman in roughly the same area for a touchdown.
If you think back to a few of Carr’s end zone throws this season on early downs — an interception in Week 1 against the Rams when throwing to Jared Cook, an interception in Week 3 against the Dolphins when looking to Martavis Bryant, an interception in Week 5 at the goal line intended for Derek Carrier against the Chargers — it constituted progress.