The Raiders are a rebuilding team. Head coach Jon Gruden will be the first to admit that.
But fortunate circumstance and positive play put Gruden’s squad in a scenario where they could take control of a Wild Card playoff spot and then the AFC West over the last two weeks.
They were blown out in both games. Downright embarrassed might be a better way to put it after Sunday’s 40-9 loss, where they needed a garbage-time score to end a 147-play touchdown drought that spanned nearly 10 quarters.
Yes, these Raiders were exposed as not yet ready for the big time.