As the game transpired in Cincinnati, it was clear that health wasn't in the Raiders' favor in the 41-24 loss to the Bengals.
Already coming in the game down Andre James with an ankle injury, three other offensive linemen went down with ankle injuries in Kolton Miller, Andrus Peat and Cody Whitehair.
Then there were cornerback Nate Hobbs and tight end Harrison Bryant who, in a bizarre twist of fate, also went down with ankle injuries.
While the injury bug was chomping down, Head Coach Antonio Pierce refused to make excuses following the defeat.
"We're just playing younger and younger, just keep getting younger and younger. More opportunities for somebody else to step up," Pierce said postgame. "You're a pro football player, a professional. We talked about that last night, having opportunities and when you get them, you've got to be prepared.
"Everybody wants to play. Regardless of how it is or where it goes, it's just the nature of the beast. That's what's happening to us right now. Nobody feels sorry for us and we don't feel sorry for ourselves. We got out there with 11 and do our best."
The biggest obstacle for the Raiders was Joe Burrow, as the QB kept plays alive in the pocket to stay on the field. The Bengals offense had the ball for nearly 35 minutes with Burrow completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for a career-high five touchdowns.
"I've got a whole week to figure that out and we've got to do a better job as a staff," Pierce said of the team's defensive showing. "Today what were they, four for five? ... Again, high expectations for the defense and obviously, we're not playing well enough."
Toward the end of the contest, the Raiders head coach attempted to "get a spark" for the offense by replacing Gardner Minshew II with Desmond Ridder, who the team signed off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad after Aidan O'Connell was placed on injured reserve (thumb).
In Ridder's first action with the Raiders, the former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback went 11-of-16 for 74 yards and a touchdown pass to Brock Bowers.
"In my position, and 32 other people's position like me in the league, you've got to be ready to go at any snap," Ridder said. "So it doesn't matter what happens, I've just got to be ready to go and I was. It felt great to be out there. It felt great to see the work I've put in over the time, being able to come out there and put it on the field."
Following the slew of injuries the Raiders suffered, there couldn't be a better time to reach the bye week. The week off the gridiron will hopefully pay dividends in their quest to break their five-game losing streak.
"We've got to reset. I mean, it goes for all of us," Pierce said. "It's a group effort, it's a team effort. We've all got to find a way to do better. We're going to pinpoint from this game and look at a lot of things from caches to play-calling to players to execution to situations that we all can do a much better job and put ourselves in position to get into the fourth quarter and actually have a chance to win and not always be playing catch up."
View photos from the Raiders' Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) and quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) rushes for a 1-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) rushes for a 1-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) celebrates with tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) celebrates with tight end Harrison Bryant (84) after rushing for a 1-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce on the sidelines during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett (0) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (29) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Thomas Harper (34) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (11) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Cody Whitehair (65) and tackle/guard Andrus Peat (75) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (84) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) goes to kick a 46-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett (0) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II (15) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Harrison Bryant (84) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison (22) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Amari Gainer (53) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (45) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95), safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) and defensive tackle Matthew Butler (91) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) on the bench during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) returns an interception for a 29-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) celebrates with teammates after returning an interception for a 29-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) after returning an interception for a 29-yard touchdown during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (7) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) and offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (8) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
A Las Vegas Raiders helmet on the sidelines during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a 22-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
