Mile High Report
The Raiders are one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. What do fans think of the state of the franchise?
There was a point this season when the Las Vegas Raiders were riding extremely high.
After a Week 2 upset of the Baltimore Ravens, it’s hard not to feel that rush. The feeling was short-lived, of course, since the Raiders would lose to the Carolina Panthers the following week. After a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas has yet to win a game.
The Raiders (2-8) have lost six straight games heading into the second matchup this season with the Denver Broncos (6-5). The Broncos won the Week 5 game against Las Vegas 34-18.
We go “behind enemy lines” to get a feel for the Raiders heading into Sunday’s game with Ray Aspuria from Silver and Black Pride to preview Sunday’s game.
Ray: With the team at 2-8 overall and floundering under Antonio Pierce, Raider Nation is at an odd crossroads. Meaning fans know their beloved Raiders need a quarterback, and the best opportunity to obtain one is in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Looking across the social media landscape and even the comments in our pieces on Silver and Black Pride, there’s growing chatter of tanking to obtain the highest pick possible. This is occurring even with the most die-hard of Raider Nation who note they don’t want to see the team lose, but it may be in Las Vegas’ best interest to stack Ls to get a Top 5, if not Top 3, pick this coming April.
In terms of the state of the franchise, it’s definitely in limbo.
It’s unclear if Pierce’s status as Raiders head coach beyond the 2024 season is a for sure thing. Tom Brady joined the Raiders as a minority owner but is reportedly going to have major sway with owner Mark Davis.
In a quarterback-driven league, Las Vegas is without a rudder with Gardner Minshew as QB1.
As Maxx Crosby noted after the team’s 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins this past Sunday, the team is “playing for pride at this point.” It definitely appears the team is going through the motions and will make key decisions this offseason.
Ray: Brock Bowers is the blindingly bright spot for Las Vegas. The rookie tight end arrived as a pro-ready prospect, and the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft hasn’t disappointed. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Bowers has the size and speed that makes him a matchup nightmare and he’s shown he can make plays on any defender placed on him (defensive backs and linebackers). His route running is smooth as he gets in and out of breaks with little...
