Raiders' Long Term Future Could Be Determined In Week 8 Matchup Vs. Jets

The Las Vegas Raiders lost four games in a row, and the 2026-27 season is in jeopardy. 

Our hosts, Lucas and Connor, look into the Raiders' 35-21 loss against the Los Angeles Rams, which did have some positives to be happy about. 

For starters, Las Vegas' quarterback Kirk Cousins continued to show why he's one of the league's best as he went 26-for-44 passing, garnering 295 yards and two touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

Looking at some of the negatives from the loss, the Raiders' run game was virtually non-existent. Collectively, the RBs only racked up 42 yards -- Mike Washington Jr. with 27 and Ashton Jeanty with 15.

The receiving corps did have a great game, though, totaling 308 yards between a plethora of receivers, tight ends and RBs.

Lucas praises the Raiders' offense, noting that the play-action and passing game have been great all season, and the numbers certainly prove his point. 

Looking at a trending topic in Las Vegas' season, Lucas brings up the discourse around QB Fernando Mendoza and whether we should root for him to suit up. 

Mendoza did sniff the field at the tail end of the Raiders' loss to the New England Patriots in Week 5, and with the stretch of losses, the question of starting the rookie QB has been brought to light. 

Head coach Klint Kubiak has stated that Cousins is the starting QB moving forward, but logically, if Vegas continues to lose fans and media have been wondering if a path toward Mendoza becoming QB1 will be an option. 

Our hosts debate what the Raiders' trade deadline plan will be and whether the team goes all-in on adding, with the hope that Vegas gets back to its winning ways, or if another few losses will ignite a fire sale. 

Listen to the full episode for Lucas and Connor's predictions and picks for whom they'd want the Raiders to acquire if they're buying at the deadline. 

The Raiders have their best shot at getting this season back on track on Sunday, November 1 when they travel to play the New York Jets. 

New York is currently 2-5, on par with the past few seasons theme of struggling to win. 

Whether the Raiders win, though, is yet to be seen and Lucas thinks there's a lot riding on this game. Between the trade deadline plans and Mendoza's time to start, a loss in New York could very well determine the outcome of not just this season, but years to come.