The Las Vegas Raiders looked dead in the water over the last five weeks during the 2025 NFL season. That trend was expected to continue in Week 16 as they traveled to take on the Houston Texans on the road, who are a playoff team and as hot as anyone in the league.
That was fine with the majority of Raider Nation, as losing and getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is at the top of the priority list. Young players performing well is an added bonus, but ensuring that Pete Carroll is out the door and the team keeps its high draft position is paramount.