Oakland Raiders: What would loss to Cowboys do to team?

After losing a crucial game to the Kansas City Chiefs, what’s next for the Oakland Raiders, pending the result of their next outing with the Dallas Cowboys?

Another loss would officially end the Oakland Raiders‘ hopes of claiming a division title. Though, many fans have already checked out and accepted this team as an utter disappointment that doesn’t belong in the postseason.

To avoid officially ending the season, though, the Raiders will have to get past the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 15 primetime matchup on Sunday Night Football.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, owner Mark Davis didn’t want to discuss the team at its current 6-7 state:

What if the Raiders lose to the Cowboys on Sunday night? Will Davis ever talk to Rapoport about the big letdown in 2017? Probably not.

Head coach Jack Del Rio talked about current matters with the media on Monday, but it sounds like white noise, and he knows it:

"As players and coaches, we are as frustrated and pissed off about what occurred yesterday as anybody out there. Losing a game like that hurts, and there are no words I can say here today that will take away that pain or make people who care about the Raiders feel better. I’m really not going to try."

The Raiders should’ve been pissed off after losing four consecutive games earlier in the year. The anger should’ve set in after the Washington Redskins punched them in the mouth for the time this season in Week 3. It seems like Oakland still hasn’t recovered from its first loss at the nation’s capital.

Nonetheless, you know a team has fallen on hard times if the head coach isn’t offering the same, “let’s stick together, get to work and correct our errors” speech after a loss. Del Rio knows it’s a tired approach that hasn’t reaped any significant results.

Will the Raiders play like their season depends on it in Week 15? What’s at stake on Sunday?

Alive, Not Hopeful

A win won’t erase an awful defeat to the Chiefs. However, players love to walk off the field with a victory at any cost. At 7-7, the Raiders would mathematically remain alive for a division title and an AFC wild-card spot despite how ugly the road to .500 looks in hindsight.

Stranger things than Oakland winning the division have happened in the league. Remember, the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West with a 7-9 record in 2010. It’s a rare occurrence, but it’s why we play the games.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

The Cowboys won’t have running back Ezekiel Elliott in action due to a six-game suspension, which ends in time for Week 16. Unfortunately, Oakland hasn’t taken advantage of its opportunities with opponents missing key players. It didn’t matter that Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters missed the previous game due to suspension because the Raiders offense didn’t show up until the fourth quarter.

Nonetheless, Oakland has registered 12 sacks in the past three games since John Pagano took over defensive play-calling duties. If he can dial up relentless pressure on quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Alfred Morris may have to win the game for the Cowboys.

Oakland’s defensive line must put up a wall in the trenches to win this contest. If that happens, the Silver and Black would all but end the Cowboys’ postseason hopes in a tough conference when it comes to playoff seeding while keeping their slim chances on life support.

Mathematically Eliminated

Insert the Dumb and Dumber scene in which Jim Carrey says, “so, you’re telling me there’s a chance.”

As explained above, the Raiders still have an opportunity to play in January. However, a loss could make that scenario impossible, per 95.7 The Game host John Dickinson:

The three outcomes aside from the Raiders have a strong possibility of occurring on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings are all favored to win their games, per OddsShark. A loss for Oakland could put them on draft order watch for 2018.

After watching one disappointment after another, playoff talk seems wishful. However, the circumstances look crystal clear.

Next: NFL Week 15: Fatal flaw of each current playoff team

The Raiders need to win out and hope for the best. A defeat with a poor offensive showing would probably put the final thread in Todd Downing’s suitcase on his way out of Oakland if he’s not already set to pack his bags for the new year.

On Sunday, in the primetime slot, we’ll find out how the pissed off Raiders play in the bright lights with their season flashing before their eyes. Will they fold and shrink as they did in the previous game? Or do they respond with a little that may be too late?