ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The night of August 28th was a vital night for the Oakland Raiders. It was the night Derek Carr ripped apart the visiting Seattle Seahawks, including several starters, in the fourth preseason game.

In the record books, it meant nothing. But in terms of the franchise, it was the night the team decided Carr -- the team's second-round pick -- was ready to overtake veteran Matt Schaub as the starter.

Fast forward two months later. It is time for Carr to lead the Raiders against the same world champion Seahawks. This time the game is in Seattle. More importantly, this time it counts and the entire Seattle defense will be on the field for the entire game and it will be for keeps.

Carr is well aware that that wonderful preseason moment means nothing now.

"It's so different," Carr said. "That game, it is what it is. It was preseason game No. 4, and that's where it ends. There's nothing to be said after that about playing them and all that. This is the defending Super Bowl champs at their house with great players all over the field. It'll be a challenge and something I'm looking forward to."