Yikes. The New Orleans Saints offense took the field on Sunday facing a 7-0 deficit against the Detroit Lions, and their first play from scrimmage had Derek Carr dropping back to pass — and that’s where things took an ugly turn.
Carr missed a wide-open A.T. Perry on the left side of the field and chose to check down to tight end Juwan Johnson in tight coverage, which was a dangerous decision. And it proved to be costly. The pass deflected off of Johnson’s hands and into the mitts of Lions safety Brian Branch, who intercepted it to set the Detroit offense up in prime field position.
Johnson should have caught that ball. But Carr shouldn’t have thrown it in the first place when he had a safer option open for a bigger gain downfield. And everyone saw it: Saints fans, local media, and observers on social media:
AT Perry could not have been more wide open and the OL held up for Carr to have time to throw.
Had a bad angle from the press box on the throw to Juwan Johnson. Watched it back. Probably should’ve been caught. Regardless…turnover on Saints first play.
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) December 3, 2023
Look at 17 pic.twitter.com/4fIBvTrdWW
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) December 3, 2023
Juwan Johnson should have caught that, but Carr refused to throw to a wide open A.T. Perry and opted for the check down.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) December 3, 2023
Juwan Johnson should've caught that. No doubt.
That said, Dennis Allen's $40 million quarterback missed a wide-open WR. I mean wide-open.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) December 3, 2023
Well, can't imagine a more disastrous start for the Saints offense.
Derek Carr didn't see A.T. Perry wide open on the left side of the field, opts for a short throw to Juwan Johnson. Pass hit him right in the hands, but he drops it. Pops up in the air and it's intercepted.
— Luke Johnson (@ByLukeJohnson) December 3, 2023
Derek Carr missed a wiiiiide open receiver, checked it down to Juwan Johnson and it's intercepted off the tip drill.
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) December 3, 2023
Oh my God. Derek Carr had time to throw, AT Perry got wide open, and then the ball bounces off Juwan Johnson's hands and gets intercepted by the Lions.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) December 3, 2023
Speechless.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) December 3, 2023
I mean WIDE open. https://t.co/NMajbfYBmz
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) December 3, 2023
First pass intercepted 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Carr right on cue
— 🎁 (@Gift1stclass) December 3, 2023
Derek Carr with all the time in the world..
Elects to force a dump down over the middle and gets intercepted.
Lovely start to the game for both units.
— Matt DeGregorio (@Matt_DeGregorio) December 3, 2023
You can't make this stuff up
The first throw from Derek Carr gets intercepted #Lions already up 14-0 on the #Saints #DETvsNO— Erik (@eriknaquin14) December 3, 2023
Lmao We blaming Carr already this game is comical. AT Perry was open, missed him That pass SHOULDVE never been intercepted. On top of that your 2nd drive you start with a Jamal Williams run? Kamara drop and then a 3rd and 11😂.. defense getting TORCHED. Time to rebuild
— FB.GG/RedMamba (@RedMam8a) December 3, 2023
Derek Carr 1st Quarter
1/6 for 6 yards and an interception$150 million man
— AoS (@AoSkully) December 3, 2023
Carr Stats
1-6 passing 6 yards
1 Interception
🥹🥹
— Louisiana Tarzan (@LouisianaTarzan) December 3, 2023
One quarter in and Derek Carr has 1 completion and 1 interception 😬
— James D Koh (@JamesDKoh) December 3, 2023
21-0 after 10min, 3 three and out, 1 interception, Derek Carr is still our QB #DETvsNO pic.twitter.com/5jG8CLboFL
— cariñito hogareño 🇸🇹 (@nemotinno) December 3, 2023
That interception is what the #Saints keep getting from Carr. He misses wide open guys all the time.
— Kaleb Blanton (@thekalebblanton) December 3, 2023
This is the issue that Twitter experts who say it’s not on Carr are not able to grasp. He is missing routes.
Interception may not have been “his fault” but it was cause he waited 5 seconds, missed reads to throw the ball at last second https://t.co/xo8QUBAMAt
— Hold The Mayo (@snowlikejonn) December 3, 2023
This play ended with a Derek Carr interception pic.twitter.com/zUDgKTSPrc
— Him Hardaway Jr (@_hotboy19_) December 3, 2023
If the biggest worry with Jameis is interception or TD but Carr is interception or stall in the redzone, I’d rather the high Risk/reward with Winston. Carr is excruciating to watch
— ⚜️ 𝕋𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕠 ⚜️ (@CajunEra_IX) December 3, 2023
Derek Carr missed a wide open receiver and chose to check down to Juwan.. which hit him right in his hands and turned into an interception. #saints
— Antione Grant (@AntioneLGrant) December 3, 2023
