Looking for the epitome of bittersweet?
Look no further than the locker housing a pensive Michael Mayer, deep in the bowels of Allegiant Stadium late Sunday afternoon.
On one hand, the Raiders third-year tight end had a signature game - a career-high nine catches for a career-best 89 yards - as he got extra run with All-Pro Brock Bowers placed on injured reserve earlier in the week.
On the other hand, Mayer's exploits came in yet another blowout loss, this one 34-10 to the Giants that was not only the Raiders' 10th straight defeat, but also dropped their record to 2-14 and kept them firmly in line for the No. 1 overall draft pick with one game to go.
But players are not worried about such things as draft slots, nor should they be; they want success. And not necessarily individual success. Hence that whole bittersweet vibe enveloping Mayer in the gloaming of the Raiders' season.
"It's tough, man," Mayer said. "No matter how many catches, receiving yards, whatever, you just want to win and you know that maybe, sometimes, being able to catch the ball and really move the ball down the field, like I was able to do a little bit today, can help the team win.
"And [yet], you're not really anywhere close. You're not anywhere close. So it's a tough, tough pill to swallow."
Yeah, Mayer is pretty good, in case you forgot.
There's a reason the Raiders used a second-round pick, No. 35 overall, on him in 2023; he was the best tight end in the nation the previous fall at Notre Dame.
And there was also a reason why it took Mayer until now to emerge as a catch-and-run threat; the arrival of Bowers, who was a first-team All-Pro last season as a rookie.
"Mike had the chance to be featured today, and he totally came through," said Raiders coach Pete Carroll. "He was physical, he was creative, made all the catches. I just thought that was a beautiful game for Mike."
So much so that receiver and draft classmate Tre Tucker approached Mayer during the game.
No, not to remind Mayer that his Cincinnati team had beaten Mayer's Fightin' Irish in 2021, though Tucker would later drop that nugget in the Raiders locker room - a 24-13 Bearcats win in which Tucker had a 27-yard touchdown catch and Mayer caught eight passes for 93 yards.
But to dap him up.
"I told him that, literally during the game, like the last drive, I was like 'I'm proud of you, man,'" Tucker said. "'You got to catch some footballs today. See you running.'
"I was very happy to see him do what he did today."
In fact, Mayer authored five of the Raiders' 10 longest plays on the day, receptions for 19, 16, 13, 13 and 11 yards.
When he wasn't finding open spaces in the middle of the field, he was careening off defenders after securing the catch. When not wrecking defenders in the run game.
His favorite play against the Giants?
"I had like a little choice route that felt really good," he said. "I faked to the outside and ran inside and there was nobody on the whole inside. And that kind of brought me back to college. I used to run those routes all the time in college and it's so fun, because if you get the guy leaning one way, or if you run a stick, stick, stick and now, OK, well, I've run three straight sticks, [so] now I'm going to fake the stick, go inside.
"So, I'd say that one."
With Bowers healthy, and the Raiders running 12 personnel, it's easy to say that Bowers is the pass-catching tight end and Mayer is the blocking tight end.
Except…
And for the upteenth time, Mayer proved against the Giants his soft hands also make him a dual threat, a la Bowers.
"We have the best tight end tandem in the NFL," Tucker said.
"I played against [Mayer] in college … and he was a dog, the best tight end in the country. Then, the year after, we got the other best tight end in the country [in Bowers]. So, those two guys are tremendous."
But with Bowers on the sidelines, supporting his teammates and coaching up Mayer, it was Mayer's day.
Even if it wasn't the Raiders' day.
Knowing his ultimate team-first goal, I asked Mayer how it all felt…from a personal standpoint.
Mayer tried to hold back a smile.
"It felt so good," he said. "Oh, my God, it felt so good, man. I haven't been able to do that in a while. But it just, it really did feel really good.
"I know we didn't win the game, but to be able to do that and to be able to really just give myself some confidence like that, whether it's the first game of the season or the second-to-last game of the season, it's just, it feels really good. I want to win the game, but it feels good."
Good and, yes, bittersweet.
View photos from the Raiders' Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) and quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Decamerion Richardson (25) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense huddle during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes (22) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) lines up before kicking a 42-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a 42-yard field goal during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9), linebacker Devin White (45) and safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. (32) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Greedy Vance (41) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) makes a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tyler Lockett (17) makes a 4-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (3) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi (56) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Caleb Rogers (76) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) and linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. (10) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Atonio Mafi (56) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) and guard Caleb Rogers (76) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Shedrick Jackson (4) during the regular season home game against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium.
