The Sports Xchange

OAKLAND, Calif. — Trailing the Baltimore Ravens by three points with just over two minutes to play Sunday, the Oakland Raiders had the ball at their 20-yard line at the O.co Coliseum.

Coming off a one-sided loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Raiders appeared headed for an 0-2 start to the season, but quarterback Derek Carr said that when he stepped into the huddle, he knew they were going to score.

“There was a great look on everyone’s face,” Carr said. “It was just a confidence, man, ‘We’re just at practice’ (look). We did this. We practiced against this. We practiced against these looks. It was just a confident look in everyone in that huddle, and I just said, ‘Hey man, I better not screw it up. These guys are ready to go.'”

As it turned out, Carr was right. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Seth Roberts with 26 seconds to play, lifting the Raiders to a 37-33 victory against the Ravens on Sunday at the O.co Coliseum.

Carr marched the Raiders 80 yards on nine plays in 1:44 for their game-winning touchdown, giving coach Jack Del Rio his first victory with Oakland.

“It was special,” Del Rio, a Bay Area native, said of the victory. “I had to focus on taking my mind elsewhere so I didn’t get all choked up.”

Carr, who left last week’s game against the Bengals with an injury to his right thumb, threw for a career-high 351 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He completed 30 of 46 passes and had his second career fourth-quarter, game-winning drive.

“He’s a special guy,” Oakland safety Charles Woodson said. “You saw that with the last drive today.”

Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper had seven catches for 109 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught nine passes for 111 yards and a TD.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco completed 32 of 45 passes for 384 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Baltimore wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. caught 10 passes for 150 yards, and tight end Crockett Gillmore had five catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

What we learned about the Raiders:

1. Quarterback Derek Carr is only in his second NFL season, but he is the unquestioned leader of Oakland’s offense. Carr solidified his hold on that role Sunday by directing a game-winning, 80-yard touchdown drive in a 37-33 victory against Baltimore. Carr, who passed for a career-high 351 yards, threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Seth Roberts with 26 seconds left. “He showed poise and he stood in there in the pocket, made some great throws,” Raiders safety Charles Woodson said. “Receivers and tight ends and backs made some great catches for him, and they moved that ball down the field and put us in a position to win and they got it done. This guy, man, he’s a special guy, and you saw that with that last drive today.”

2. The Raiders’ defense is going to keep defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and coach Jack Del Rio working late this week, if not the entire season. Oakland gave up 493 net yards against Baltimore. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 384 yards, more than he had in any game since early in the 2011 season. Oakland’s young cornerbacks — D.J. Hayden, T.J. Carrie, Neiko Thorpe and Keith McGill — must grow up in a hurry. They desperately need some help from pass rushers Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith. No Raider had a sack in either of the first two games.

3. The Raiders’ seemingly endless search for some legitimate receiving threats appears to be over. Rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 109 yards and his first NFL touchdown Sunday, a 68-yard strike from Carr in the first quarter. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, a free agent pickup from San Francisco, caught nine passes for 111 yards and a 29-yard touchdown. Cooper has 12 catches for 156 yards in his first two NFL games. Crabtree has 14 catches for 148 yards.

Etc.

–QB Derek Carr completed 30 of 46 passes for a career-high 351 yards and three touchdowns with one interception Sunday in a 37-33 victory against Baltimore. Carr threw a 12-yard, game-winning TD pass to WR Seth Roberts with 26 seconds left to play. It marked Carr’s second career fourth-quarter, game-winning drive.

–WR Amari Cooper, a rookie first-round pick from Alabama, caught seven passes for 109 yards and his first NFL touchdown Sunday against Baltimore. He caught a 68-yard TD pass from QB Derek Carr with 12:49 left in the first quarter, giving Oakland a 7-0 lead.

–WR Michael Crabtree caught nine passes for 111 yards and his first touchdown since signing with the Raiders during the offseason as a free agent. The former 49er caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Derek Carr with 2:12 left in the third quarter Sunday in a 37-33 win against Baltimore. Crabtree had his ninth career 100-yard receiving game.