The Las Vegas Raiders have a 1.1 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the model from The Athletic’s Austin Mock, but that doesn’t mean Monday’s game at the Kansas City Chiefs is not a big deal.

“It’s a great opportunity again for us,” interim coach Antonio Pierce said of his 6-8 team.

The Raiders are 3-3 since Pierce took over and coming off scoring a franchise-record 63 points against the unplugged Los Angeles Chargers. One of the losses was to the Chiefs a month ago when the Raiders blew an early 14-0 lead at home. Last season, the Raiders were up 17-0 in Kansas City before losing 30-29 after Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow collided on a fourth-down pass play to seal the defeat.

Besides playing a hated division rival, the Raiders are playing for Pierce. They clearly want him and interim general manager Champ Kelly to be retained.

Not to mention, they are playing to define their identity. Pierce grew up a Raiders fan, and his pledge to return.

What was Raiders football, and what does Pierce want it to be again?

“When I see Raider football, I see personality, I see swag, I see confidence,” Pierce said. “I see guys that believe in one another. I see winning performances. I see the superheroes being superheroes. I see a certain physicality and nastiness of how they play, not just on defense, but throughout.

“I see a group that does not apologize, and that regardless of what the outcome is, you know that you poured your heart out on that field. And have we done that? At times. At times.”

It’s more than just flipping a switch, or hiring a new coach, Pierce said.

“It takes time to build,” Pierce said. “Most winning organizations take time to build. The problem is you don’t have a lot of time.”

It’s more than just flipping a switch, or hiring a new coach, Pierce said.

“It takes time to build,” Pierce said. “Most winning organizations take time to build. The problem is you don’t have a lot of time.”

One of the players whom Pierce brought in, cornerback Jack Jones, definitely has some swag. He has the play of the year with his Michael Jordan hang time and pick six against the Chargers, and was asked about Patrick Mahomes and the underwhelming Chiefs receivers.

“Mahomes is the magician,” Jone said. “You stop the magician, you stop the act.”