Latest Loss Should Have Las Vegas Raiders Contemplating Future Ahead Of NFL Trade Deadline

Raise your hand if you’ve heard this story before. The Las Vegas Raiders getting off to a strong start before absolutely imploding.

That was the case once again Sunday afternoon at home against the conference rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Playing in front of what was pretty much a road crowd, Antonio Pierce’s squad opened up a 7-3 lead in the first quarter. Alexander Mattison’s three-yard touchdown run capped off a 70-yard drive conducted by recently inserted starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell.

From there, it was completely downhill for the Silver and Black. Pittsburgh would score 26 consecutive points before a garbage-time touchdown for the Raiders. The end result was a 32-13 loss and a 2-4 record on the season.

Turnovers and penalties doomed the Raiders in this one. Penalties wiped out an Aidan O'Connell to Alexander Mattison touchdown as well as an interception from Divine Deablo.

"It starts with discipline. We had four penalties but they were at critical moments. The turnover thing is embarrassing. We don't respect the ball enough so we don't even deserve a chance to put ourselves in a position to win,” Antonio Pierce told reporters after the loss, via the Raiders’ official website. “Details, obviously adjustments as the game goes on. We talked about the first drive, hell of a job there, then what does that lead up to?"

The Raiders committed three turnovers for the second consecutive game, resulting in 17 Steelers points. That was pretty much all she wrote in what would be an ugly 19-point home loss for Vegas.

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Where do the Raiders go now that this is seemingly a lost season for the organization? What changes could be coming?

Las Vegas Raiders Need To Sell Ahead Of NFL Trade Deadline

At 2-4 on the season, things are not looking up for the Raiders. They must contend with the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals before a Week 10 bye. Interestingly enough, that bye comes the same week as the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline.

We know Davante Adams is on the trade block and will likely be dealt here in the next three weeks. He has not suited up since Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers and has since told the Raiders’ brass that he prefers to be traded. General manager Tom Telesco is working with other teams in making that a reality.

Outside of Adams, there are a number of veterans the Raiders could trade in order to build for the future. Realistically, this just is not a playoff-caliber team. Depending on what happens over the course of the aforementioned three-game span, we could be seeing a major roster shake-up.

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, guard Cody Whitehair, running back Alexander Mattison, defensive tackle John Jenkins and linebacker Robert Spillane are names to watch. Each could net Vegas a mid-round pick, adding to their NFL Draft capital in the process.

One player we know won’t be moved is star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. His name popped up in relation to the Detroit Lions after they lost Aidan Hutchinson for the season due to a brutal lower-body injury.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on the Pat McAfee Show Monday, clearly indicating that the Raiders are not going to move their star pass rusher under any circumstance.

Crosby is a clear building block. The same thing can be said about rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Outside of that, the Raiders don’t have the proven young talent that could help expedite a rebuild.

It’s now all about thinking long term in Southern Nevada. The talent vacuum on this Raiders squad is real. It obviously starts at the quarterback position, but it also expands throughout the entire roster.

Vegas heads into Week 7 against the Rams ranked 27th in both scoring and points allowed. It is being outscored by an average of nine points per game. It just has not been good enough in every aspect of the game.

"We've just got to go back and get to work," Pierce said. "It's very cliché, but it's true. ... Our record is what it shows, we're 2-4. It's not good enough. We're not coaching well enough, we're not playing well enough, and we're not detailing well enough."

That’s the understatement of the season.