History lesson: Is Derek Carr more Russell Wilson or Brandon Weeden?

When the Raiders take the field against the Jets on Sunday, they will do so with rookie Derek Carr starting under center. The surprising announcement made by Oakland coach Dennis Allen earlier this week extends the streak of seasons with at least one rookie QB starting Week 1 in the NFL to seven — a list that includes Super Bowl winners and high-pick flameouts.

But what is Carr? Is he more Russell Wilson or Mark Sanchez? While we won't know for some time, we can see how each of Week 1 rookie starters since 2008 have fared, both in their first game and their career — and that moment in each's career when we knew if we had a stud or a dud on our hands.

Then watch Carr on Sunday . . . maybe his moment will come early.

2008

Matt Ryan, Atlanta (Drafted No. 3 overall)

The debut: 9 of 13, 161 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 137.0 passer rating in 34-21 win over Detroit.

The moment: Ryan didn't wait long to make his presence known, connecting with receiver Michael Jenkins on a 62-yard TD on Ryan's first career pass attempt.

The career: While Ryan's place among the game's best quarterbacks is debatable, he is clearly the franchise signal caller the Falcons hoped for when the drafted him. He is 60-34 in the regular season as a starter (missing only two games in his career), is the Falcons' career leader in passing yards and is only one TD pass behind Steve Bartkowski's franchise mark of 154. Most importantly, he helped Atlanta move past the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal and in 2012 brought the Falcons their first playoff win in eight years.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore (Drafted No. 18 overall)

Joe Flacco (left) earned the confidence of future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis very early on, then celebrated this Super Bowl win with him a few years later.

The debut: 15 of 29, 129 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 63.7 passer rating in 17-10 win over Cincinnati.

The moment: Thrust into the starting job in Week 1 because of injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, and going up against Carson Palmer and Chad (then-)Johnson in their primes, Flacco took his first steps — literally — toward earning the veteran Ravens' trust when he rolled to his right, found an opening and ran 38 yards for the TD to put the game away in the third quarter. It remains his longest career run.

The career: Flacco never let off the gas after that opener. Admittedly playing with some of the greatest defensive players in league history as teammates (including Ray Lewis, pictured with the QB), Flacco has had an already-historic career. He was the first rookie quarterback to start and win two playoff games, the only QB in NFL history to start and win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons, has more road wins than any other starting quarterback in NFL history (six), has won a Super Bowl, and is signed to a contract worth more than $120 million.

2009

Matthew Stafford, Detroit (Drafted No. 1 overall)

He may not have a Super Bowl ring (or even a playoff win), but with his video-game worthy stats, Matthew Stafford has led many a fantasy owner to their league championships.

The debut: 16 of 37, 205 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 27.4 passer rating in 45-27 loss at New Orleans.

The moment: It took a while, but Stafford's most celebrated moment was a last-second TD lunge in which he faked out a napping Dallas defense on the goal line for the win. But that was last season. In fact, Stafford's career may be best epitomized by his first game. Playing from behind while Drew Brees threw six TDs, Stafford threw the ball 37 times in his debut. Calvin Johnson of course had the longest grab, a 64-yarder. But Megatron was tackled at the 3 on the play, Stafford was careless with three interceptions and, despite getting the Lions close late, he couldn't seal the deal. Sort of like the end of other games — and seasons — recently in Detroit.

The career: There is no denying Stafford is among the game's top gunslingers. But leading the league in attempts (twice), passing for 4,000 yards (thrice) and 5,000 yards (once), and eclipsing 40 TD passes (once) don't guarantee playoff success. In fact, Stafford has led the Lions to the playoffs just once, and Detroit lost the game, and in much the same way as Stafford's debut — a 45-28 loss to the Saints and Brees at New Orleans.

Mark Sanchez, NY Jets (Drafted No. 5 overall)

Whether by butt or snap, Mark Sanchez dropped the ball a few too many times in New York after a terrific start to his career, and thus the Jets are the only team on this list with two QBs.

The debut: 18 of 31, 272 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 84.3 passer rating in 24-7 win at Houston.

The moment: Talk about a career filled with moments: the white pants GQ photo shoot, the hot dog on the sidelines, the bizarre hair band and, of course, the Butt Fumble. Plenty of style, seemingly little substance, and despite the stats, the ability to get people to focus on the all the wrong things on the field. Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Sanchez!

The career: In all fairness to Sanchez, his career has not been a complete bust, and it is not entirely his fault. After all, he tied the NFL record for career playoff road wins (four) in just his second season (Joe Flacco has since broken it). He has a winning record in his career despite the Jets' struggles to find front-line receivers, and if not for an injury suffered in the 2013 preseason, he may still be the Jets' QB. But anonymous teammates ripped his work ethic and Sanchez's off-field antics never sat well with the fan base. And when Geno Smith arrived in 2013, the writing was on the wall. Sanchez is now a backup in Philadelphia.

2010

Sam Bradford, St. Louis (Drafted No. 1 overall)

Sam Bradford would probably take a career thus far marred by fumbles and playoff losses. Instead, his inability to stay healthy is thus far the biggest mark on his career.

The debut: 32 of 55, 253 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 53.1 passer rating in 17-13 loss to Arizona.

The moment: Bradford actually had two of them in his first career game, and what he did with them sums up how his career has gone thus far. With 6:13 left in the game and the Rams trailing by 4, Bradford got the ball at the Rams' 29. Bradford led the Rams on a 12-play drive . . . that went all of 50 yards and ended with an interception. A play later, he got the ball back at the Rams' 24 with 1:21 left after the defense forced a fumble. Despite the little time left, Bradford managed to get off 11 snaps . . . and moved the ball 40 yards before a desperation heave was picked off to end the game. Plenty of chances, not a lot of yards, and always coming up short.

The career: Talk about getting close but just coming up short — in two full seasons as a starter, Bradford is 7-9 and 7-8-1. In the other two seasons he missed six and nine games due to injury. And now this season is over before it began with a second torn ACL in less than a calendar year. Unless the former Heisman winner can overcome the injuries, he will be most remembered for fragile legs, missed opportunities and the man who ended outrageous rookie contracts. His six-year rookie deal in the neighborhood of $80 million was the last by a No. 1 pick before a lockout, a new CBA and the rookie wage scale the following season.

2011

Cam Newton, Carolina (Drafted No. 1 overall)

You gotta hand it to Cam Newton . . . for a guy who came into the league with plenty of hype and his own signature TD pose, he has done plenty to live up to it.

The debut: 24 of 37, 422 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT, 110.4 passer rating in 28-21 loss at Arizona.

The moment: With little more than half of the first quarter of his career gone by, Newton was 1 of 2 for 14 yards, had been sacked once and trailed the Cardinals 7-0. After consecutive runs set up third and 7, the Panthers and head coach Ron Rivera called timeout. On the next play, Newton hit a streaking Steve Smith for a 77-yard scoring pass and a star was born. By the time Newton was done, he obliterated the record for passing yards by a rookie in an NFL debut (eclipsing Peyton Manning's mark by 120 yards), had his first Superman pose as a pro thanks to a TD plunge, and put the resurrection of the Panthers into high gear.

The career: While Newton's debut was dazzling, it was also a loss. The remainder of his career has been an up-and-down affair, as well, with his flashes of brilliance on the field met with questions about effort and leadership off of it, at least in the early going. Indeed, through his first two seasons, Newton was only 13-19 as a starter, but had 40 passing TDs and a whopping 22 more on the ground in that span. Then last season, Newton threw for a career-low in yards, ran for a career-low six TDs, and attempted the fewest number of passes in his career. The result? Career-highs in passer rating and completion percentage, a 12-4 record and No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs . . . and no more questions about leadership.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati (Drafted No. 35 overall)

The most prevailing view on Andy Dalton is he must win a playoff game soon after so many playoff failures. But so many playoff failures means so many playoff games played. In Cincinnati, that is an accomplishment in itself.

The debut: 10 of 15, 81 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 102.4 passer rating in 27-17 win at Cleveland.

The moment: Dalton is another on this list with no true career-igniting moment on the field. Even in that career debut, he missed the second half due to injury and watched Bruce Gradkowski lead the Bengals to victory. If anything seems clear about Dalton, it is that if he is to have that moment on the field, it will have to come in the playoffs. That is the weight that comes with being the anointed savior for a long-suffering franchise like the Bengals. And no moment exemplified that fact than when the team gave Dalton the No. 14 worn by Bengals legend Ken Anderson just a day after he was drafted.

The career: When it comes to Dalton's career thus far, perception and reality seem to have a hard time finding common ground. The perception is that Dalton, 0-3 in the playoffs so far, must prove he can win in big situations. There was even talk entering the offseason of this being a make-or-break season for The Red Rifle in The Queen City. But the reality is Dalton has 30 wins and three playoff appearances in three seasons in Cincinnati. In the five seasons before Dalton's arrival, the Bengals had only 33 wins and one playoff appearance. And that whole make-or-break season thing? His six-year, $115 million offseason extension answered that.

2012

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis (Drafted No. 1 overall)

One small lunge for Andrew Luck, one giant lunge for the Indianapolis Colts (and Andrew Luck's legacy).

The debut: 23 of 45, 309 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 52.9 passer rating in 41-21 loss at Chicago.

The moment: Luck's rookie season never had that "Wow!" moment, but in stepping in to replace Peyton Manning, Luck set NFL records for passing attempts and yards in a rookie season, and his 433 yards against Miami is the most by a rookie in any NFL game. THE moment came in the wild-card round last season, when Luck and the Colts overcame a 38-10 third-quarter deficit at home to beat the Chiefs 45-44 for Luck's first career playoff win. He threw for 443 yards and four touchdowns (despite three interceptions), and his diving score after scooping up a fumble in the fourth quarter will likely sit near the top of his highlight reel when his career is over.

The career: Most pundits agree there exists a Big Four of NFL quarterbacks. But after Brady, Brees, Manning and Rodgers, the No. 5 spot is up for debate. One of the most common names to fill that gap is Luck. He does not have Russell Wilson's ring or RG3's show-stopping ability. But when it comes to predicting the face of the NFL in 10 years, for most, Luck is the one.

Robert Griffin III, Washington (Drafted No. 2 overall)

With one famous celebration on his butt, Robert Griffin III owned the Internet for a brief bit. He also owned the nation's capital as a rookie, but now finds himself with plenty of concerned constituents.

The debut: 19 of 26, 320 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 139.9 passer rating in 40-32 win at New Orleans.

The moment: One word: Griffining. Top that, Luck. Trailing the Saints 7-3 in the first quarter of his first game, RG3 dropped back and fell under pressure. Just before he was knocked to the ground, Griffin completed an 88-yard TD pass to Pierre Garcon. Sitting up to see his receiver sprinting to the end zone, Griffin lifted his arms in the air with his butt on the ground, and the Internet's newest sensation was born.

The career: Griffining overtook Tebowing as the football-posing craze. And much like his fellow Heisman winner, Griffin's star has lost some of its luster. Clearly, RG3 has more talent than Tebow — hell, more talent than most QBs — but a blown out knee to end his rookie campaign and a falling out with Mike Shanahan the following season has the Washington signal-caller at a bit of an early crossroads.

Ryan Tannehill, Miami (Drafted No. 8 overall)

It hasn't been the easiest ride through South Beach for Ryan Tannehill thus far.

The debut: 20 of 36, 219 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT, 39.0 passer rating in 30-10 loss at Houston.

The moment: He's still waiting for it.

The career: Tannehill is the most nondescript of all the QBs on this list. He has one 400-yard passing game — and the Dolphins lost. Miami lost his first three-TD game. He is 4-8 against the AFC East and has been shut out by the Bills and Patriots. He is 15-17 as a starter and is facing in the eyes of many a make-or-break year.

Brandon Weeden, Cleveland (Drafted No. 22 overall)

Brandon Weeden's ride in Cleveland was so bumpy, he's already been run out of town.

The debut: 12 of 35, 118 yards, 0 TD, 4 INTs, 5.1 passer rating in 17-16 loss to Philadelphia.

The moment: If you didn't believe in omens, what happened just before Weeden's first career start may have changed that. During pregame warmups, Weeden became trapped under a giant American flag as service members were spreading it across the field for the national anthem. Weeden emerged unscathed (physically, at least), but not before providing the football world with the first of what would be many unintentionally humorous moments in his time in Cleveland.

The career: He came into the league as a 28-year-old who many teams felt had no chance, was nearly injured in his first pregame warmup, and "survived" to throw four interceptions and put up a sub-10 passer rating in a game his team lost by a point. Yeah, it has not gone well. He went 5-15 as a starter and threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and is now 30 and backing up Tony Romo in Dallas.

Russell Wilson, Seattle (Drafted No. 75 overall, 2012)

Most QBs would kill for a career as good as the first two years Russell Wilson has put together.

The debut: 18 of 34, 153 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 62.5 passer rating in 20-16 loss at Arizona.

The moment: Wilson didn't waste any time in making his mark. Just a month before the draft, the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a three-year contract. But a funny thing happened on the way to Week 1 — while most of the world didn't see it, the rookie turned in one brilliant moment after another in training camp, and by opening kickoff, the job was his.

The career: A .750 regular-season winning percentage in two seasons. Consecutive seasons of 3,000 yards, 26 TDs and triple-digit passer ratings. A 4-1 playoff record. And of course, a Super Bowl ring. Wilson went from being too short to start to the best young leader in football in less than two years. And with the Seahawks primed to make another run at a title, the sky's the limit for Russell's career, his legacy . . . and his bank account.

2013

EJ Manuel, Buffalo (Drafted No. 16 overall)

EJ Manuel arrived to a hero's welcome in his first game as a Buffalo Bill, and nearly took down Tom Brady before the afternoon was over. Now Bills fans hope they get to cheer him for a full season.

The debut: 18 of 27, 150 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 105.5 passer rating in 23-21 loss to New England.

The moment: The Bills may have lost that first game, but Manuel came out a winner — in the eyes of Bills fans, at least. Trailing by 10 late in the third quarter, Manuel tossed two touchdowns in less than five minutes to give the Bills a 21-17 lead and send the crowd into a frenzy. Ultimately the Pats won on a field goal in the closing seconds, but the Bills looked like winners in the long run.

The career: The jury is still out on Manuel, and his rookie season saw plenty of lows to go with the highs, as Manuel went 4-6 as a starter. More alarming than the losing record in those 10 games, however, are the six games not accounted for. Injuries, particularly knee injuries, cost Manuel six games and have people wondering if he is injury-prone.

Geno Smith, NY Jets (Drafted No. 39 overall)

It took a round a day later than they wanted, but in Geno Smith (center), Jets fans finally got their man in 2013. But will it turn out to be a case of careful what you wish for?

The debut: 24 of 38, 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 80.6 passer rating in 18-17 win over Tampa Bay

The moment: The last player on this list had the earliest moment of them all. Plenty of prognosticators had Smith going to the Jets in the first round of the 2013 Draft. Geno was at Radio City Music Hall, ready to bask glow of his new hometown fans. It took a day longer than expected, but when Smith's name was called in the second round, the crowd went wild (OK, there were plenty of boos, too) and the second day of the draft became as dramatic as the first.

The career: Another one whose career is far too young to have a verdict rendered; but Smith, after stepping in when Sanchez went down in the preseason, did start all 16 games, did nearly lead the Jets to the playoffs, and did hold off Michael Vick this offseason to hold on to the starting job. And no magazine shoots in white pants, either.