It's a quest the Raiders have been on since the season-opening win at New England, which, by the way, is one of the 10-2 Patriots' only two losses.
And it's a quest the Raiders have been stumbling around on since, despite offseason hopes and that early feel-good win.
Make it make sense.
Against the heretofore woebegone Browns, who were starting rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders for the first time after his spectacular fall to the fifth round of the draft, the Raiders trailed 14-0 before they had 16 yards of total offense.
And by the time the dust cleared and the hometown boos dissipated, Smith had been sacked 10 times.
Yes, 10 times.
One shy of a Raiders franchise record set on Dec. 8, 1986, when Jim Plunkett (6), Marc Wilson (4) and Rusty Hilger (1) were sacked a combined 11 times by the Seahawks.
Two shy of the NFL record, most recently "accomplished" by the Giants against the Eagles in 2007.
"It's really on me," Smith said, matter-of-factly, even as it was Kelly who was dismissed. "I've got to make better plays, find a way.
"I wasn't counting the plays or the sacks so that's new information to me. I was just trying to go out there and execute, and trying to get the job done."
Granted, it's hard to do that under constant duress, when you're not under a mass of humanity.
It was after Sack No. 8 when Smith, emerging from the pile, threw his hands up in frustration while looking at the Raiders bench, as if to say, What do you expect me to do?
No other snapshot in time captured the game so perfectly from the Raiders' perspective.
So where do the Raiders go from here?
They still have quality skill players, from tight end Brock Bowers (six catches for 55 yards) to running back Ashton Jeanty (108 total yards), and Crosby on the defensive side of the ball.
And maybe that's why the perpetually positive Pete Carroll is able to put a happy-go-lucky face on things, even if he's never been 2-9 in his lengthy career as a head coach.
"Something good is just about to happen, and if you can hold onto that mentality, then you keep believing that you can turn and make things happen," he said. "That's kind of what has guided me for all these years.
"That's the approach, that's the outlook."
Up next, a three-game gauntlet with matchups at the Chargers (7-4), home against the Broncos (9-2) and at the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (8-3).
Which brings us back to our original thought – draft-slot watch season, right?
Only the Titans, at 1-10, have fewer wins than the Raiders, while the Giants (2-10), Jets (2-9) and Saints (2-9) have the same number of wins. So we're talking about a Top 5 pick at the moment, when the current Raiders are talking about trying to get better.
Which also brings us back to Crosby, who spoke not only of playing for pride, but having tunnel vision.
"It's unfortunate but we've got to just keep showing up every day with a positive attitude and keep working," he said.
"We've got 17 opportunities. If you don't want to be here, go home."