Blake Bortles, Derek Carr the next Manning vs. Brady?
Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders will be the NFL’s next great quarterback rivalry; one that could rival Manning vs. Brady when all is said and done.
On Sunday, two of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks- and the best of this generation- squared off for likely the last time ever.
Related Story: The Complete NFL All-Time Greatest Team
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning gave us 17 unforgettable matchups that started back on September 30th, 2001. The two saved their best for last. Their latest matchup on Sunday went in favor of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos by a score of 20-18 that sent Manning to his fourth Super Bowl.
More from Jacksonville Jaguars
- 3 players the Jacksonville Jaguars gave up on way too soon
- 2023 NFL Season: Predicting the passing touchdown leaders
- Jacksonville Jaguars extend breakout tight end Evan Engram
- 2023 NFL Predictions: Every Divisional Winner for the 2023 Season
- Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Trevor Lawrence another intriguing weapon
With “Brady vs. Manning” likely over, what will be the NFL’s next greatest quarterback duel?
It will be Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders. Two quarterbacks selected in the 2014 NFL draft. Both took over the starting job in attempt to turn their respective struggling franchises around. The Raiders haven’t made the playoffs since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002, and the Jaguars haven’t made it since 2007.
Both teams have invested high draft picks at the quarterback position over the years. JaMarcus Russell was selected number one overall by the Raiders in 2007, and Blaine Gabbert was taken tenth by the Jaguars in 2011. The two are among the biggest busts in their franchises’ histories.
Derek Carr had the more impressive inaugural campaign in 2014. Carr finished with 3,270 yards passing to go along with 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Compare that to Blake Bortles 2,908 yards, 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Bortles played in fewer games, but it looked like Carr had the upper hand going into year two.
A lot of questions surrounded Blake Bortles heading into 2015. He silenced, and answered, all those questions and critics. Bortles broke the Jaguars passing records for yards, touchdowns, and completions in lieu to 4,428 yards passing, 35 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. Bortles tied for second in the NFL in touchdown passes behind only Brady himself.
Carr on the other hand, threw just under 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
In Peyton Manning’s second season as a starter, he passed for 4,135 yards with 26 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. In Brady’s second season as a starter, he threw for 3,764 yards and 28 touchdowns to go with 14 interceptions.
Peyton Manning made the playoffs in his second season though, and Tom Brady won a Super Bowl after taking over as a starter in 2001. Carr and Bortles numbers were superior than the two, granted, the game is more of a passing league nowadays. However, Carr and Bortles were surrounded by little talent when they began their careers.
Bortles and Carr will square off for the first time in 2016 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Of course the Jaguars and Raiders have more in common than drafting quarterbacks in 2014.
Current Raiders coach Jack Del-Rio coached the Jaguars from 2003 to 2011. Del-Rio guided the Jaguars to two playoff appearances, but no division titles.
The two teams also have an elite player at the wide-receiver position. Second-year receiver Allen Robinson of the Jaguars and rookie Amari Cooper of the Raiders will be heading to the Pro-Bowl this weekend. Both amassed over 1,000 yards, while Robinson caught 14 touchdowns compared to Cooper’s six.
Along with drafting Carr in the 2014 draft, the Oakland Raiders selected Khalil Mack out of Buffalo. Mack registered 15 sacks in 2015 and will be heading to his first Pro-Bowl, and is the first player ever to be selected as an All-Pro at two different positions in the same season.
The Jaguars are hoping Dante Fowler will achieve similar results. The team selected the Florida Gator pass rusher with the third pick in the 2015 draft. However, before Fowler could sack the quarterback, he tore his ACL in mini-camp in May.
Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union said back in December,
"Let the race to control the AFC for the next decade begin. There will be other contenders for certain, but it’s hard to imagine the Jaguars and Raiders not being near the top of a post-Tom Brady AFC.Their respective talent hauls since the 2014 draft give them a shot at future greatness and they’ll likely have to go through each other to achieve it."
Bortles and Carr’s first matchup in 2016, may not be their only one. Both the Raiders and Jaguars appear to be contenders for their first division crown in over a decade.
But to even come close to the level of Manning vs. Brady, Bortles and Carr will need to be among the greats at their position when all is said and done, as well as face off in the playoffs year after year.
Will it happen?
More nfl spin zone: 5 disappointments from Jaguars 2015 season
Who knows. But the foundation is there. For the first time, in a looooong time, these two franchises have something to be excited about. The National Football League and their fans should be happy too, because we may have the next great quarterback rivalry.