The Raiders were officially eliminated from the playoffs last week and essentially everything about the 2024 season is now more about the 2025.
The players are playing for their 2025 season. The coaches are coaching for their 2025 season. And the 2025 draft has become the biggest talking point around the Raiders with a month still left in the regular season.
The Raiders tried to trade up for Jayden Daniels a year ago, and if they want an opportunity at one of the premier quarterbacks in this year’s draft, they are probably going to have to “earn” a top pick.
Unfortunately for the Raiders and their fans, that means losing might have to be part of the equation for the final month of the season.
And that brings up one of the great debates among NFL fans…
Is it acceptable to root against your team in hopes of a better pick in the draft?
Your opinions are welcome in the comment section below, but Raider Nation Radio host JT the Brick offered his strong opinion this week on his weekday radio show.
“It’s a shame. I was ready to go on the post-game show [after the Chiefs game]. I feel for the coaches, the players, their families, everyone in Raider Nation that they didn’t win that game. Because as I said, I never, ever, ever want to see any fan who didn’t want to win that game,” JT said after the Raiders loss to the Chiefs.
“If you’re out there, get away from me. If you didn’t want to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in real time, and you weren’t sweating out the turkey from the night before and had an ice cold Modelo next to you with your hands in the air going ‘We are going to beat these blankety blanks, we got them’, then you’re not a Raider fan.”
“Oh, JT said, who’s a fan or not?” JT continued. “Oh, you better believe I just did. If you wanted your team in that environment, the way Brock Bowers played, the way Aiden O’Connell played, the way Max Crosby played, and you wanted them to lose, then you’re not a fan. You’re a fraud.”
From there, JT said he had a little more understanding for fans willing to lose to teams other than the Chiefs.
“You’re a phony if you didn’t want to beat Kansas City. Now, you might not want to beat Tampa Bay, Jacksonville. I get all that,” he continued. “I get all that. It’s taken me a long time to get over this. I’ve had a really rough year this year trying to deal with this.”
“I think I’m handling it professionally. At times, I’m not. I apologize to anybody who I offended. I want to win every game. I want to win every game because I’m paid by that organization. I’m on their flagship station. I’m Raider Nation through and through. I want them to win. And that [Chiefs] game, I wanted bad, man.”
As of Saturday, the Raiders are sitting on the second-overall pick in the 2025 draft.
The Jaguars and Raiders play on December 22 and that game could decide who ends up with the no. 1 pick.
Most tiebreaker scenarios are not going to favor the Raiders as their strength of schedule is among the strongest in the league. They could win a tiebreaker scenario with the Giants as the remaining SOS of both teams is similar.
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Based on the way the Raiders played on ‘Black Friday’ it’s hard to imagine they aren’t going to win one of their next five games.
The Raiders close out the season with only one team remaining on the schedule with a winning record.
The Chargers (8-4) will travel to Las Vegas in the final week of the season and there’s a good chance Jim Harbaugh and company will be in position to rest starters in that game. Harbaugh might not decide to rest players in week 18, but it’s hard to imagine the Chargers will be motivated to win a meaningless game with the playoffs just a week away.
x: @raidersbeat
That being said, I’m all about BEATING THE P.O.S. Broncos here in Colorado. Figure it out RAIDERS. YOU HAVE A LOT MORE TO WORRY ABOUT THEN THE KC!!!!
Born Raider fan 46 years dont question the best fans in the world we are Raider Nation and the only nation
Why give up draft picks to move up to number 1 spot when you are already close to be able to draft in the one or two spots.
JT, I understand the situation, but we shouldn’t have to be in the situation to begin with, if the model is Mark Davis being involved in hiring then we are on the same cycle we’ve been on for over 15yrs. Let the Tom’s give it a try, I am a huge fan, but like any business, if it’s not working, change the man who’s running it.
A higher pick in this draft ( in the top 5) is a net loss.
Tankers are losers. Find another team fair weather losers!
Well said JT. I’m so sick of the mental midgets that say we’re tanking. News flash WE STINK. We’re not tanking. The players aren’t. The coaches aren’t. The front office aren’t. The fans that pay good money deserve our boys giving their all. From what I’ve seen, THEY ARE.