Losses piling up in Las Vegas are nothing new, particularly for the Raiders.
Right here they go once more.
Now 2-8 and at the moment tied for third within the projected 2026 NFL Draft order, subsequent 12 months is about all that is left for the franchise to play for with seven video games remaining.
They’re going to do rather a lot to outline that future within the remaining six video games of the season. Two different two-win groups — the Browns on Sunday and a season finale with the New York Giants — are on the schedule with the Chargers, Broncos, Eagles and Texans sandwiched between.
Pete Carroll and the Raiders hobbled by way of his first season on the job devoid of necessities for competing in right now’s NFL.
Casting their lot with Geno Smith through commerce with the Seahawks was fantastic, however the requisite subsequent step was addressing a cheesecloth offensive line. With out blue-chip blockers, rookie working again Ashton Jeanty has scrapped for nearly each yard gained this season. Of his 554 speeding yards, 470 had been gained after contact. With no No. 1 receiver, Jeanty faces greater than seven males within the field on nearly each carry.
Re-signing Maxx Crosby to a long-term extension was a win, however he does not have sufficient assist round him to constantly ship a significant influence.
“I used to be actually disenchanted that we did not cease them extra,” Carroll mentioned Monday night time. “There was an area in that sport, three or 4 drives in a row, and we could not get off the sphere.”
A large-lens have a look at the Raiders does reveal just a few constructing blocks in place. However Las Vegas does not have the playmakers to sq. with the very best within the AFC or the middle-of-the-pack within the NFC (Dallas). Not proper now.
With the Raiders trailing 33-16 within the fourth quarter, Las Vegas got here up with a cease with over 11 minutes to play and an opportunity to make it attention-grabbing. However a fourth consecutive loss was served as an alternative when the Dallas protection stuffed Jeanty in his personal finish zone for a security.
Smith was the Raiders’ main rusher. Jeanty? The No. 4 decide within the 2025 draft totaled seven yards on six carries.
“We’re not adequate proper now,” Crosby mentioned. “There’s a whole lot of points and we obtained to search out methods to get higher. Discover options as an alternative of simply doing the identical factor anticipating a unique consequence. We have to search out methods to get higher and it takes all people.”
Crosby and the Raiders have been at this very intersection earlier than. They know the view from the underside.
On Monday (Nov. 17), a loss to the Cowboys leaves the Raiders with two wins, eight losses and 7 video games remaining.
Final season, a Nov. 17 loss dropped the Raiders to 2-8.
In 2023, consecutive wins over the Giants and Jets to start out November had Las Vegas at 5-5. Then they misplaced three in a row.
In 2022, they had been 2-7 at this level within the season.
Sure, losses are frequent in Vegas. Fortunes do change.
However will the Raiders proceed to show over the identical playing cards?
