Raiders have 5 weeks to answer major questions after coming up short against 堅い 対抗者s
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) - The chances were there two weeks ago at Miami and again Sunday against Kansas City, but when it comes to taking advantage against the NFL's 最高の，を越す teams, the Raiders aren't getting it done.
Las Vegas （機の）カム within a あられ／賞賛する Mary pass of 潜在的に sending their game against the イルカs into overtime, but couldn't 打ち勝つ three turnovers - or 出資する on three takeaways.
Then, against the 長，指導者s, the Raiders jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Kansas City outscored Las Vegas 31-3 the 残り／休憩（する） of the way.
The loss to the 長，指導者s 特に stung. The Raiders have extra time to think about the ways they （機の）カム up short against their AFC West 競争相手 now that they're on a bye. They next host Minnesota on Dec. 10.
"You've just got to find a way," cornerback Amik Robertson said. "When you´re going against them, you've got to find a way. 特に if you go up like that, you've got to try to stay on their throats. That´s for both 味方するs of the ball.
"We had a lot of losses this year, and just for me, that´s just the one that I 手配中の，お尋ね者 the most and, unfortunately, we （機の）カム up short."
Las Vegas Raiders 暫定的な 長，率いる coach Antonio Pierce stands on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City 長，指導者s, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
The Raiders have made plays in 重要な 状況／情勢s, but more often than not, those occurred against struggling teams.
There aren't many of those 対抗者s left on the schedule. Only one of the remaining five teams has a losing 記録，記録的な／記録する.
Maybe in that regard, the break comes at a good time for the Raiders (5-7). 加える, it's an 適切な時期 for players like 防御の end Maxx Crosby to have some extra 回復 time. He played with a ひどく wrapped 膝 against the 長，指導者s after 存在 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）d as doubtful that week.
"Twelve straight weeks in the 国家の Football League, that´s 堅い," 暫定的な coach Antonio Pierce said. "That´s hard on the 団体／死体 and for our guys. They fought. You saw Maxx Crosby did a hell of a 職業 coming out there, Kolton Miller coming 支援する. For those guys to come 支援する and now to have a n extra seven or so days to get ready before our next game before we play the Vikings is 抱擁する for our team.
"Also, I think it´s an 適切な時期 for us to reset mentally. It´s been a lot of trying times this year. A lot of ups and 負かす／撃墜するs, and you sit 支援する, you reset, you think about it, spend some time with your family and coming に向かって end of the week you start 行方不明の football again that Friday, Saturday, Sunday you´re not playing. Get these guys 支援する in the building on Monday and we´re ready to roll."
The final five games will play a large part in what happens with this franchise going 今後.
Do the Raiders play 井戸／弁護士席 enough that Pierce gets a 本物の look at becoming the 長，率いる coach, or will owner 示す Davis again go outside the organization in search of a big-指名する 雇う?
From there, whoever's in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 will decide how much of the 現在の roster to keep. The players understand what the final stretch means for their 未来s.
Those 含む 新人 quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who is 存在 given the chance to keep the 職業 even as the Raiders keep an 注目する，もくろむ on next year's QB-rich 草案. Pierce said O'Connell is 扱うing the position like a 退役軍人.
"I do think the game is slowing 負かす／撃墜する (for O'Connell)," Pierce said. "I don´t think it´s there yet for him. That takes a while for all of us, but I do see a guy that´s 進歩ing as far as his mental capacity and what we´re able to do."
Even though the Raiders are の近くに to 存在 除去するd from the プレーオフ race, O'Connell and his チーム仲間s still have a lot on the line.
"We´re 競争の激しい, (Pierce is) a 競争の激しい coach, he was a 競争の激しい player playing," Robertson said. "We know how this league is. You start off hot, everybody loves you. Now we lost two in a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 and everybody has their own negat ive opinion. We've got to stay with each other and continue building, continue to 信用 in the guy next to us, and continue to compete and continue playing."
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) passes against the Kansas City 長，指導者s during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, left, catches a pass against Kansas City 長，指導者s cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Kansas City 長，指導者s wide receiver Rashee Rice, foreground, is 取り組むd by Las Vegas Raiders cornerback J ack Jones during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
