INDIANAPOLIS - It was a locker room as confused as it was angry.
The Raiders, in the wake of their 40-6 demolition by the Colts, were looking for answers in the scattered remnants of discarded athletic tape and dirty laundry scattered about the floor, and, amongst themselves.
Forty to six?
How, after such a promising and positive start - that season-opening win at New England seems ages - did they get here, 1-4 and with each loss more perplexing and deflating than the previous?
Because really, against the Colts, the Raiders could not have asked for much of a better start.
The defense authored a commanding three-and-out to begin the game.
The offense took over and looked dominant in driving 80 yards in 16 plays and taking almost 10 minutes off the clock.
And while a touchdown would have been preferable, special teams rebounded from last week's mishap and came through with a 24-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.
Then, the wheels came off.
Totally off.
It was as complete and shocking a collapse in all three phases of the game as has been seen in the streets of Silver and Black in a long time.
A very long time.
Images of a quizzical 38-0 loss to the Jets in 2009 flashed.
Visions of that bemusing 52-0 defeat at St. Louis in 2014 materialized.
Echoes from last month's 41-24 no-show at Washington bounded about.
This, though, was something else. Because after the defense put the clamps on Indianapolis to start the game, the Colts scored touchdowns on their next six - SIX! - possessions, making the loss of their placekicker Spencer Shrader to a second-quarter knee injury a non-factor.
Offensively, Geno Smith was picked off two more times, once on a tipped ball in the red zone, another on a route that rookie receiver Dont'e Thornton appeared to misplay, and Smith now has an NFL-leading nine interceptions (yes, coach Pete Carroll admitted he thought of replacing Smith with backup Kenny Pickett late but thought it better for the first-team offense to get more "practice" in the game. Fair enough).
And special teams whiffed on another block, this one perhaps even more costly. A week after the Bears blew through virtually untouched to knock down Daniel Carlson's potential game-winning field goal, AJ Cole suffered a right ankle injury when Segun Olubi raced through, also virtually untouched, to block his second-quarter punt and Cole was reduced to holding duties while Carlson was forced to punt.
How did this happen, you ask? For one, injuries have exasperated while taking a toll on a team that is not all that deep.
It's been said here since training camp that while the Raiders have top-tier talent at several positions, it was also a relatively top-heavy roster. One that would suffer mightily due to a dropoff and be exposed with a key injury or two.
How about five, then?
The Raiders on Sunday not only lost Cole, a unique weapon who can flip the field, but were also without stalwart left tackle Kolton Miller, who is on injured reserve with a right ankle injury, All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, whose left knee has not responded the way he'd like since getting injured in Week 1, tight end Michael Mayer, who suffered a concussion two weeks ago, cornerback Eric Stokes, whose knee injury also did not cooperate, and linebacker Germaine Pratt, who did not make the trip.
Maxx Crosby, who had three tackles with a QB hit and a pass defensed, said he would have to watch the game film before having any type of assessment on what happened in Indianapolis. But the four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher was sure of one thing.
"It's tough, we want to play complementary football," he said. "We started fast but, besides the first two series, I mean, nothing really went well. Got to look at the film.
"Got to look at the film. That's all we can do."
In another corner of the room, linebacker Devin White kept a brave face.
He said the Raiders practice hard and put in the right prep work, despite the results.
"We have to find the missing link to just put it all together and just gel," he said.
"It's a long season. Man, it could be an historic run we're talking about. What, 17 games? We're 1-4? Just running the table, you've always got to be positive with everything you're doing. I'll never go into a situation thinking I'm already defeated. And I know my team don't neither. And if they do, I'm going to preach, put that mentality that, man, we've always got a shot. If we're out there on that field, we've got an opportunity. What we do with it is what really matters."
But through four losses in five games and coming off such a dispiriting loss, are the Raiders already at the whistling-by-the-graveyard stage?
White insists not.
"When life throws s* at you, you've just got to find a solution and fix it," he said. "That's what we're on right now. We're on a journey of fixing it."
While walking out of the gallimaufry that was the Raiders locker room, the scent of athletic balm wafted about and slowly dissipated. And you had to wonder if that was also the smell of the Raiders' season wafting away, or the pungency of urgency.
View photos from the Raiders' Week 5 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) and defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) and defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tommy Eichenberg (44) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman (81) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders offense during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders huddle during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) kicks a 24-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20), safety Jeremy Chinn (11) and linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darnay Holmes (30) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) and linebacker Elandon Roberts (52) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71), center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) and center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders center/guard Jordan Meredith (61) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Carter Runyon (46) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson (9) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White (45) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Darien Porter (26) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) and center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams (33) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jonah Laulu (96) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Dylan Laube (23) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway (97) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Las Vegas Raiders during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Stone Forsythe (70) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle DJ Glaze (71) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) before kicking a 37-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (8) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) after kicking a 37-yard field goal during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Chris Smith II (29) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Charles Snowden (49) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Ian Thomas (80) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jack Bech (18) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (86) during the regular season away game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium.
