### Raiders Season Spirals After Loss to Steelers

The 2024 season has taken a bleak turn for the Las Vegas Raiders following their 32-13 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. Currently sitting at 2-4 and occupying the bottom spot in their division, the Raiders' playoffs aspirations appear all but extinguished. Disheartened fans are now pivoting their focus towards the upcoming NFL Draft.

The predominant frustration this season stems from the Raiders' recurring issues. Offensively, their inability to run the ball effectively persists, yet the coaching staff remains insistent on establishing the ground game. Defensively, missed tackles have become a chronic problem, with 13 more recorded just this past Sunday according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Head Coach Pierce is under fire for failing to address these glaring issues, and questions are mounting about his game management decisions, particularly his choice to forgo challenging Ameer Abdullah's potential touchdown for a hurry-up play.

Despite the gloom, linebacker Divine Deablo provided a rare bright spot upon his return to the starting lineup. Deablo was a force on the field, amassing six tackles, including two defensive stops, and earning an elite 90.8 coverage grade from PFF. He also generated three pressures on the quarterback, one of which resulted in a sack, highlighting his importance to the team's defensive efforts.

On the offensive line, the struggles continued as the team managed only three yards per carry. Center Andre James has underperformed, earning a sub-par 51.7 PFF run-blocking grade, his fifth game below the threshold in six outings. Expected to be a stalwart on the line, James' decline in performance has become a significant worry after receiving a contract extension in the offseason.

Defensively, Maxx Crosby remains a standout performer. With seven pressures against Pittsburgh, Crosby now boasts 5.5 sacks for the season, making him one of the few dependable players in an otherwise challenging year.

Cornerback Nate Hobbs had a difficult game, with PFF marking him as the Raiders' primary culprit for missed tackles while conceding four catches for 64 yards.

Finally, defensive end Adam Butler and rookie running back Konrad Laube both squandered key opportunities. Butler's roughing the passer penalty negated an interception, leading to a Steelers touchdown, while Laube's fumble on his first NFL carry directly set up another Pittsburgh score.

As the Raiders' season continues to unravel, the pressure mounts on both players and coaches to find solutions and restore some semblance of competitiveness to the franchise.