The Las Vegas Raiders' playoff chances for the 2022 NFL season all but evaporated with an embarrassing 17-16 loss against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night. The team's division hopes could be officially dead before Week 14 is over, and a run at a wild-card berth would require plenty of luck.

If the Kansas City Chiefs defeat or tie the Denver Bronco Sunday, the Raiders will be eliminated from the AFC West race. Even if Las Vegas wins the rest of its regular-season games, the Raiders' playoff chances remain low.

With a 5-8 record, the Raiders are 4.5 games behind the Chiefs for first place in the AFC West. Las Vegas is the No. 12 seed in the conference, trailing the No. 7 seed New York Jets by 2.5 games for the spot in the playoff picture. Four teams that are out of the playoff picture are ahead of the Raiders in the wild-card standings.

Despite entering Week 14 at two games under .500, the Raiders potentially had a path to the playoffs. Las Vegas was visiting an injury-riddled Rams team that had lost six straight games. Baker Mayfield took the majority of snaps at quarterback for Los Angeles just two days after the team claimed him off waivers.

Mayfield led the Rams back from a 13-point deficit with less than four minutes left in regulation. The quarterback engineered a 98-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Las Vegas penalties, giving Los Angeles a 17-16 victory.

It marked the fourth time this season that the Raiders have blown a 13-point lead, tying a league record. Had Las Vegas even won half of those games, the team would be 7-6 and in the thick of the wild-card race.

Las Vegas seemed to be turning its season around. The Raiders had won three straight games. Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams were playing as well as anyone at their respective positions. The Raiders were expected to beat the Rams and potentially go several weeks without a loss with very winnable games against the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers to follow.

Derek Carr picked the wrong time to have his worst game of the season. The quarterback completed just 11 of 20 passes for 137 yards and two interceptions. His 36.9 passer rating was the lowest of his entire career.

Now, the Raiders have to win out in order to have any hope of making the playoffs, and even that probably won't be enough.

Derek Carr Davante Raiders
Derek Carr #4 and wide receiver Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders stand on a sideline during a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium on August 14, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images