Jarrett Stidham ‘balled out’ vs top ranked 49ers D, earned respect of Raiders teammates

It’s been quite a week for the Raiders. Two days after their latest collapse in which they scored just ten points in Pittsburgh, the team was informed Derek Carr had been benched and Jarrett Stidham would be making his first ever NFL start.

Carr’s longtime friend and former college teammate Davante Adams took it especially hard. That was to be expected.

What he and the rest of us didn’t entirely know what to expect was how the offense would look with Stidham behind center. 

Things got off to a hot start, with Stidham driving the team down the field for an opening touchdown, capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass to Darren Waller. It was the first of two first half touchdown Stidham threw. The second going to Davante Adams from four yards out on which Adams would make a spectacular play.

The 17-14 halftime lead was impressive, but the answer to all their questions really came in the third quarter.

On third and four from their own 40-yard-line, Stidham rolled left to extend the play. He ran all the way to the left sideline to buy time. That’s where he was able to find Davante Adams for a wide open 60-yard touchdown. And just as he released the ball, he was lit up.

Adams recalled the play after the game.

“I had a return route and I was coming back and I just see Jarrett just kind of sticking with me, sticking with me, sticking with me, sticking with me, and I found a void in the defense and found a way to get behind them,” said Adams. “He stuck in there and he threw it. And when he came to greet me on the sideline with blood between his teeth. That’s what you want out of your quarterback and I’m really proud of him. He’s a tough guy. He’s not the biggest dude and he sticks in there, he’s going to look for his guys, and he’s going to find a way to get it done, so I’m really proud of him for the way he played.”

It’s no small thing to earn the respect of his All Pro receiver. But Stidham even had players on defense tipping their caps with the way he was moving around and extending plays while taking hits and still delivering passes.