Despite injuries and quarterback changes, the Raiders are looking forward after the loss in Cincinnati

Coming into the game in Cincinnati, it was clear that the Raiders' health was not in their favor in the 41-24 loss to the Bengals.

Andre James had already suffered an ankle injury in the game, and three other offensive linemen, Kolton Miller, Andrus Peat and Cody Whitehair, were sidelined with ankle injuries.

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 threat of injury receded, head coach Antonio Pierce refused to make excuses after the loss.

“We’re just playing younger and younger, getting younger and younger. More opportunities for someone else to step up,” Pierce said after the game. “You’re a professional football player, a professional. We talked last night about having opportunities and when you get them you have to be prepared.”

“Everyone wants to play. No matter what it is like or where it goes, it's just the nature of the animal. This is what is happening to us right now. Nobody feels sorry for us and we don't feel sorry for ourselves. We came out. We're there at 11 and we're doing our best.”

The biggest obstacle for the Raiders was Joe Burrow, as the QB sustained plays 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 five touchdowns, the most of his career.

“I have a whole week to figure this out and we have to do a better job as a team,” Pierce said of the team’s defensive performance. “What were they today, four against five? … Once again, high expectations for the defense and obviously we’re not playing well enough.”