Raiders mailbag: Some fans rooting for 1-15 finish

Want to be part of the Raiders mailbag? Send NFL writer Gilbert Manzano your Raiders questions and hot takes. Tweet @GManzano24 or email gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Stay strong, Raiders fans:

Anyone recognize this Raiders team?

Anyone know the starting lineup in the secondary?

Anyone got a fast-forward button?

It’s only been eight games and the Raiders’ roster looks drastically different in Week 10 than it did on Sept. 1 before Khalil Mack was traded to the Chicago Bears.

Bruce Irvin was the latest Raiders veteran to be sent packing. He’s now playing for his hometown Atlanta Falcons while the 1-7 Raiders still have eight games to go in a lost season.

It’s gotten to the point where Raiders fans actually want the team to finish 1-15 to make sure they get that No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft. Even that is not a guarantee with the New York Giants also stuck at one win and currently owning the tiebreaker for the top pick.

“1-15 is the goal,” Alex Chisholm commented on Facebook. “Losing to the Niners was also a goal. (Ohio State defensive end) Nick Bosa is the main goal. This tanking business is so interesting.”

Very interesting, especially with the Raiders having three first-round picks. But losing to the Niners was a goal? Times sure are rough.

But the 1-15 goal seems possible unless the Raiders still have some magic left against the 2-6 Cardinals (Nov. 18) and the 3-6 Broncos (Dec. 24).

“You gonna remember Nick Mullens’ name after Thursday.” — Alonso Tacanga (Twitter)

I think the whole country remembers the third-string 49ers quarterback’s name after Thursday.

No one saw that debut performance coming from Mullens. Not even, Alonso. Mullens torched the Raiders for three touchdowns in a 34-3 victory on “Thursday Night Football.”

On a side note, Alonso and many other Niners fans screamed at me for ranking their beloved team last in my weekly NFL rankings. I wasn’t wrong. With C.J. Beathard, the 49ers lost to the lowly Cardinals twice.

But Mullens’ magic got them to 29th in this week’s rankings. Keep starting that guy. Mullens was either that good or the Raiders’ defense was that bad. It’s probably the latter.

Oh, and shame on you if you started the Raiders’ defense in fantasy football just because Mullens got the start. Beathard could be under center and the Raiders’ defense would still get lit up.

Heck, maybe the Bills’ Nathan Peterman could pick apart the Raiders.

“All the Raider fans at last night’s (Thursday) game need a refund.” — Peter Forseth (Twitter)

This is true. The Raiders rolled over against the 49ers, but no one was at Levi’s Stadium to receive a refund.

Red empty seats were visible for four quarters, so the stuck in traffic excuse doesn’t fly.

The atmosphere was much better in the parking lot before the game. The two Bay Area fan bases came together in a peaceful manner to send the Raiders off to Southern Nevada.

“The Raiders will be developed into a boring, albeit successful, team.” — K Hays (Email)

Gotta give K Hays credit for staying positive during these hard times. He’s like that cartoon dog sitting in a burning room and saying to himself, “This is fine.”

And why settle for successful and boring? That recipe often translates to wild-card-and-out.

The Redskins are 5-3 and lead the NFC East, but no one is taking them seriously because they’re a slow-it-down, run-heavy offense. Boring doesn’t cut it in 2018.

Think Rams, Chiefs and Saints. They’re all very exciting and real contenders.

Hopefully for Raiders fans, Jon Gruden won’t settle for the Cowboys’ mediocre, boring blueprint. You know, if he’s ever successful.

More Raiders: Follow all of our Raiders coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Raiders and @NFLinVegas on Twitter.

Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GManzano24 on Twitter.