The Raiders will host the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, a team that seems to find new ways to win every game. This is the opposite of what’s happening in Las Vegas.
It’s no surprise that the Raiders have committed 10 turnovers and 25 penalties for 201 yards over the past three weeks, resulting in three losses. Two of those games had double-digit penalties, and the third featured especially damaging mistakes. The Raiders also had at least three turnovers in each game.
“We’ve got to stop beating ourselves with turnovers, with penalties,” coach Antonio Pierce said Monday. “When opportunities are there, we have to make them. We’re not doing that right now.”
The Raiders are struggling in many ways, some of which are physical. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to miss at least a month with a broken thumb, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has been out for the last two games with an ankle injury, and several players are out for the season.
With a record of 2-5, the Raiders are facing the Chiefs this week and then heading to Cincinnati before their bye week. Even after their break, it’s hard to see many wins on their schedule.
If things don’t improve, much of the outside conversation about this team will focus on its future and potential offseason changes. Not that Pierce wants to hear any of that.
“There’s still a lot of football left,” Pierce said. “The season’s not over. We’re not tanking. We’re not trying to lose games to do anything better for the future. Hell, we’re trying to be the best team we can. And, right now, we’re not a good team.”
Pierce mentioned that the team’s focus is on improving, and “everybody was pissed off” after Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
“We can’t get comfortable with losing,” Pierce said. “That’s first and foremost. These guys are in here today, they’re out there working out and doing everything they need to do to get themselves ready to play.
We’ve got another big game this week. We get paid to play 17 weeks, right? I don’t think we went into the season believing we would win every game. Didn’t expect to lose three in a row, but that’s where we’re at now.”
