NY Giants-Las Vegas Raiders questions, answers: Is losing what matters?

Whatever cool, or uncool, name you are calling Sunday’s New York Giants-Las Vegas Raiders game we know this is one of those occasions where the losing team’s fanbase might be happier than the winner’s.

Let’s turn to ‘Silver and Black Pride’ to check in on the Raiders. Matt Holder answers our ‘5 questions’.

Ed: Seeing as the only thing on the line in this game is the No. 1 pick of the draft, are the Raiders in tank mode? Is it clear at this point that hiring Pete Carroll was a mistake and that Las Vegas will have another one-and-done head coach? What’s the fanbase’s mindset heading into the game?

Matt: The majority of Raider Nation wants to see the team lose out and get the No. 1 overall pick to land a long-term answer at quarterback, or at least have the ability to trade the pick for a haul similar to what the Bears got a few years ago from the Panthers. But the team and Carroll are still trying to win games, evidenced by last week’s two-point loss to a very good Houston Texans team. That being said, the Raiders did place a couple of starters, Brock Bowers and Jeremy Chinn, on IR this week. Bowers is basically the offense’s entire passing game, so maybe they are shifting focus and tanking for these last two games.

As for Carroll’s future in Las Vegas, if I have to put money on it, I’d bet he gets fired or retires at the end of the season. He’s said that he’s willing to stick around for a rebuild, but this team is at least two years away from being competitive and it doesn’t make much sense to keep a head coach who will turn 75 years old in September for that. Plus, this year has been a total disaster.

Ed: If the Giants end up with the No. 1 pick, do you think the Raiders would play ball and give up a number of draft assets to move up and get that pick from the Giants?

Matt: It would depend on two factors: how they feel about Fernando Mendoza and if Dante Moore declares for the draft.

If Moore declares, I can see the Raiders just staying where they’re at, or at least not making move to get to No. 1 overall, and selecting the Oregon quarterback. But if he goes back to school, that should push Las Vegas’ urgency to be aggressive and get Mendoza. The only thing that gives me hesitation is that the Indiana product doesn’t seem to be the consensus QB1 right now, so maybe the front office isn’t as sold on him and decides to wait a year to get a quarterback. Especially since the offensive line needs work and it’s likely going to take a couple of seasons to turn it around in Las Vegas, anyway.

Ed: If you could take one player off the Giants’ roster and put him into Las...