The Las Vegas Raiders overcame a myriad of obstacles to make the playoffs this season. As they prepare to face the Cincinnati Bengals, they will have to get serious about the team's future regardless of the outcome. The most important factor of Las Vegas' future is the Derek Carr situation.

Carr's future as a Raider is not guaranteed. Although he had himself a strong season – in which he threw for 4,804 yards and 282.6 yards per game, both career-highs — his contract is expiring very soon. The Raiders have to find a head coach this offseason and will keep Carr in mind as they do so.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

The Raiders will conduct a full and thorough coaching search when the offseason begins, and it appears the future of quarterback Derek Carr will be tied in with it.

Las Vegas and Carr have a mutual decision to make this offseason, and sources say the choice of the head coach will be a factor.

Carr has made it clear publicly that his preference is to stay with the Raiders, famously saying that he'd probably quit football as opposed to playing for another team. But with a year left on his 5-year, $125-million contract, he has earned a near-top of the market extension.

Carr has quarterbacked the Raiders for eight years now. Although he proclaimed his loyalty to the team, the franchise has to do its part. Finding him a proper coach could convince him to stay. But as the 30-year-old Carr ages further, he may prefer to join a team that's more fit to compete for Super Bowls, which the Raiders are not at this time.

As Carr prepares to play his first-ever playoff game, the Raiders have work to do, too.