New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Why Lions' Bruce Irvin knew Saints' Derek Carr would get 'rattled'

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 12/5/23

Detroit Lions veteran pass-rusher Bruce Irvin shared a locker room with New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr when both were with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2016 through a portion of the 2018 season.

That experience gave Irvin a bit of an advantage during Detroit's 33-28 win in New Orleans this past Sunday that improved the Lions to 9-3.

"I played with him in Oakland, so I know when you get around him, he gets rattled," Irvin said about Carr during a post-victory chat with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "He’s a hell of a player, but we knew if we got around him, we could rattle him a little bit."

As noted by The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Irvin knocked Carr out of Sunday's game when he hit the 32-year-old as he released a pass in the contest's fourth quarter. Irvin was flagged for roughing the passer due to using his weight to drive the signal-caller into the turf.

Bruce Irvin gets to Derek Carr and gets called for roughing the passer. #OnePride pic.twitter.com/TzkpT0iDFD
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) December 3, 2023

"I thought he had the ball," Irvin said about that moment. "The game is different now. They said I had to roll off to the side. I don’t know how I’m gonna do that, but just something I guess I’ve got to focus on more."

Before Sunday, Irvin last played in a meaningful game when he featured for the Seattle Seahawks in a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers this past January. While one couldn't blame Irvin for having to shake off some rust ahead of Christmas, the 36-year-old, who only signed with Detroit last month, mentioned to Florio that this isn't his first rodeo.

"At this point of my career, this stuff is like riding a bike," Irvin explained. "I’ve been doing it for so long. It’ll come back. I’m just happy they didn’t rush me and try to get me out there as soon as I got here. They gave me time, let my body adjust, get in football shape."

As of early Tuesday evening, oddschecker listed the Lions as fourth among the betting favorites at +800 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII this February. To compare, the 9-3 49ers topped the list at +200 odds.

Detroit next plays at the 4-8 Chicago Bears this coming Sunday.

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