Raiders Hit Rock Bottom After 31-0 Shutout, Questions Loom Over Future of Franchise
The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t just lose in Week 15 - they disappeared. A 31-0 blowout at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles wasn’t just another tally in the loss column. It was a full-on unraveling of a franchise that’s now 2-12 and spiraling toward a reset that feels inevitable.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a bad day at the office. This was a team that looked completely outmatched, outcoached, and out of answers.
The Eagles, who’ve had their own struggles lately, looked rejuvenated - but that had more to do with who was on the other sideline than anything else. Las Vegas offered little resistance on either side of the ball, and the scoreboard didn’t even tell the whole story.
It felt worse than 31-0.
A Season of Missteps and Misfires
The Raiders’ season has been defined by dysfunction. They’ve now lost 12 of their last 13 games, with their only wins coming against two teams that are also in the league’s basement - the Patriots in Week 1 and the Titans, who are also 2-12 and have already fired their head coach. That’s the company Las Vegas is keeping right now.
Chip Kelly is out. Geno Smith is hurt.
Pete Carroll’s future? Uncertain at best.
Carroll was brought in with hopes of stabilizing the franchise, but just months into his tenure, the questions aren’t about whether he’ll be back next season - they’re about whether he’ll make it to the end of this one. That’s how quickly things have unraveled.
And while the decision to bring in Carroll raised eyebrows from the start, pairing him with Geno Smith - and handing Smith a contract extension - only added to the confusion. Now, with Smith sidelined and Kenny Pickett stepping in, the offense is stuck in neutral. Against Philly, it barely got out of the garage.
A Franchise in Search of Direction
There’s no sugarcoating it: the Raiders look like a team in need of a full-scale reboot. Whether that means moving on from Carroll, drafting a new quarterback with what’s shaping up to be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, or blowing up the roster entirely, something has to give.
The term “unserious” has been thrown around, and while that might sound harsh, it’s hard to argue when the product on the field looks this disconnected. The Raiders aren’t just losing - they’re getting dominated. And when a team looks this lifeless in December, it’s a sign that the issues run deeper than just play-calling or personnel.
What’s Left in 2025?
The final stretch of the season won’t be kind. The Raiders close out against the Texans, Giants, and Chiefs - three teams still fighting for something. There’s a chance Las Vegas could steal a win down the stretch, but even that would be more about pride than progress.
Right now, this is a franchise at a crossroads. The losses are piling up, the leadership is under scrutiny, and the fan base is running out of patience. The No. 1 overall pick might be on the way, but unless the Raiders figure out who they are and where they’re headed, it won’t matter who they draft.
This isn’t just about one bad game. It’s about a team that’s lost its identity - and maybe, its way.