The Las Vegas Raiders had a horrible week … and then they lost to the New York Giants in Week 9. Yes, it was an awful seven-day period for the Silver and Black, who need a complete mental reset as they move forward with their season.

The Raiders have to pick up the pieces from their failures, and gain an understanding of where they need to go — not just in 2021, but far beyond. Here are a few central Raiders Week 9 takeaways from Sunday.

For more insight on the Raiders' Week 9 loss to the Giants, listen below:

Las Vegas Raiders Week 9 Takeaways

3. Mike Mayock needs to be fired as the man in charge of personnel

The Jon Gruden era has ended. Sunday's loss to the Giants — one year after a near-loss to the New York Jets in the same ballpark, MetLife Stadium — neatly underscores the central point that the Raiders' culture and identity have not improved in meaningful ways.

The Raiders have lost to the Chicago Bears at home, and to the Giants on the road. A Super Bowl contender simply doesn't lose these games. The Silver and Black started the season so well but have forfeited any claims to being a top-tier contender in what is a very fluid, parity-filled, and wide-open AFC. That's a missed opportunity for a franchise which has talent on the field but can't put the pieces together.

If there was any sense that Jon Gruden was the only man holding this team back, Sunday should have destroyed that notion. It's not just Gruden who was the problem; Mike Mayock is also the problem. He has whiffed on too many draft picks and not given the Raiders crucial reinforcements at various positions of need. The Giants were able to exploit those limitations.

Let's also be clear: Henry Ruggs, whose drunk driving got another person killed, made a completely irresponsible decision. To an extent, that's on the individual and no one else. Teams can't babysit their athletes every hour of every day. Yet, when a young athlete in the early stages of his career makes a terrible decision with far-reaching consequences, the point remains that the organization did not choose a wise, sensible athlete. It's not Mayock's fault a person died, but it is his fault that the Raiders continue to make draft selections of players who don't make good personal choices. That is on Mayock and no one else.

He needs to follow Gruden out the door. The Raiders need a fresh start in their front office.

2. Raiders don't realize their run blocking is better than their pass blocking

The Raiders averaged just under six yards per carry against the Giants. Derek Carr struggled. Vegas lost. What does that say about the way the team's interim coaching staff handled this game? The answer is obvious.

The Raiders moved the ball but didn't trust their ground game in the red zone or in other important situations. Carr is a decent quarterback — not great, not terrible — but he shouldn't be given the ball when the rushing game is generating six yards a pop. That's coaching malpractice … and this time, Jon Gruden had nothing to do with it.

1. Raiders aren't a top-tier Super Bowl contender in a wide-open AFC

This could be anyone's AFC to win. The Chiefs aren't playing well. The Bills are struggling. The Browns are inconsistent. The Steelers have aging Ben Roethlisberger. The Ravens keep falling behind by 10 or more points before rescuing themselves. The Titans don't have Derrick Henry, despite their impressive wins. This is an up-for-grabs conference. The Raiders have talent.

Yet, they can't be viewed as a top-tier contender.

The Raiders could still make the playoffs, given how weak the Chiefs are. Las Vegas could still win its division. Yet, this loss to the Giants in Week 9 shows that the Silver and Black are highly unlikely to win three playoff games in January. They are extremely unlikely to get a No. 1 seed and a first-round playoff bye. That means they will in fact have to win three playoff games to make the Super Bowl.

This team isn't cut out for that journey.