KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Here are three things you should know from Friday's 26-15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday:
Raiders down, virtually out: Try as they might to ruin a once-promising season, the AFC West kept giving the Raiders life. The Chargers started slow. The Chiefs went into a tailspin in the season's second half. That gave the Raiders control they didn't deserve, with a real chance to with the division by taking care of business.
Players felt blessed to have that opportunity. It was ultimately squandered Sunday with an awful performance against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
The days of, "so you're saying there's a chance" are basically numbered. It would take three straight wins and a whole lot of help to get back in this thing. The Raiders aren't and shouldn't to be in the hunt. Not after such a terrible showing in a game that could've established pole position.
"We don't deserve to be No. 1 in our division," tight end Lee Smith told the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "when we just went out there and pissed on our leg."
Colorful, yet accurate.
The Raiders were flat in a huge moment. There's no discounting that.
Sports
"This was a tough one," Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. "We obviously came into this with high hopes. Everything that we wanted to accomplish in our season was in front of us. It was a big day and a big moment, and we did not play well."
Another offens(ive) showing: The Raiders offense has underwhelmed all year, with poor execution leading to long scoreless spells. Sunday's showing might've been the worst yet.
The Raiders had three or less plays on six of their first eight drives against the NFL's No. 28-ranked defense. Quarterback Derek Carr had a 36.3 passer rating in that span, with a pair of late touchdown to put lipstick on the effort.
Players and coaches were scratching heads over exactly what went wrong. In this case, the "what" is more important than the "why."
"That is a good question," head coach Jack Del Rio said. "That's something we have to take a look at. Bottom line: We did not (establish an offensive rhythm). The first five drives were four punts and a pick. That's not the kind of productivity we needed today. Obviously."
The Raiders have all these weapons, from Carr to Michael Crabtree to Jared Cook to Marshawn Lynch to the most expensive offensive line in NFL history, and they can't produce consistently. Frustration among those power players is starting to mount, especially after struggling in a game the Raiders had to win.
"It was not good enough," Cook said. "No first half points. Barely any second-half points. The offense didn't pull our weight today."
3. Raiders lost in big moment: The Raiders understood the magnitude of this moment. They knew this game was vital to winning their first AFC West title since 2002. They were not up to the task.
They played poor in each phase. Offensive struggles are well documented. The defense held strong and forced a lot of field goals, but didn't make the game-changing plays required with the offense scuffling. Even Marquette King had a rough day, with several uncharacteristically poor punts.
Del Rio insists the preparation was good. The execution, however, was not. The Raiders weren't up to this challenge, and struggled in the spotlight. It seems strange considering how good they were under pressure last year, but this year's group has not been clutch.
That was a disappointment to many veterans in a subdued locker room. They had a great opportunity, and blew it.
"We have a young team," edge rusher Bruce Irvin said. "I don't think guys understand that when you get opportunities like this you have to take advantage of them. The NFL is about winning in December. If you don't do that, you won't be playing in January."
Odds of the Raiders playing beyond the regular season are slim, virtually nil all because of what happened here at Arrowhead Stadium.
