Let’s check in with the Raider Ramble staff after a disastrous Week 3 performance by the Las Vegas Raiders at home in Allegiant.
Well, we won’t call it a “trap game.” The fact is, the Carolina Panthers got off to a terrible start to their 2024 season, and something had to give. In response, the Panthers named Andy Dalton as their starting quarterback, and he led his team to victory in Sin City.
If we’re honest, there’s plenty of blame to go around for the Raiders. That being said, before we all start to logically examine everything, what are the knee-jerk reactions from our writing staff? Let’s take a look.
Reaction No. 1: Antonio Pierce appears to have thrown players under the bus…
The Raiders thanked their ardently loyal fan base on Sunday by absolutely sh*tting the bed—there’s no way around it. However, before calling for the firing of Pierce or Luke Getsy, let’s examine the actual team. Coaches can only scheme so much; sooner or later, the players must execute. To that end, it was fascinating to hear Pierce say that certain players “made business decisions.” Whether that’s true or not, it’s not a favorable look when the head coach of an NFL team is already putting his players on blast in Week 3. This will be a long week of practice in Henderson.
-Mario Tovar (@TheTovarMario_)
Reaction No. 2: Luke Getsy is on his way to being the latest Raiders Scapegoat…
Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy may want to become familiar with the work of All Elite Wrestling star Jack Perry’s immediately. Despite the lowly Carolina Panthers completely dominating the Las Vegas Raiders on both sides of the ball, Getsy has borne the brunt of the fans’ vitriol. While the Raiders might get a better offensive scheme if they hired Jonathon Moxon from Varsity Blues (Ooptie Oop anyone?), it took a total effort from the LV coaching staff to deliver such a monumental dud of a home opener. For all we know, Getsy could be everything Davante Adams said he was prior to the season.
However, it appears more probable that Antonio Pierce will compel the former Bears playcaller to bite the bullet on his behalf.
-Cam Archer (@CamArcher)
Reaction No. 3: Some things never change…
A tale as old as time: the Las Vegas Raiders losing badly to a lesser team that should’ve been handled with ease. Some things truly do never change. However, there was a change in the way the Raiders’ coaching staff responded to such a performance. After the game, head coach Antonio Pierce voiced his frustrations to the media, noting there were several players who he felt made a ‘business decision’ during the game—a decision not to give it their all as the game was, in their eyes, too far out of reach. That’s not the energy Antonio Pierce wants those who play for his football team to have, adding that he and his staff will in turn make a business decision regarding those players.
The Raiders are no strangers to “sh*tting the bed,” as Mario Tovar says, but they are strangers to their coach publicly holding them responsible. Hopefully Pierce’s unseen approach lights a fire under the team and gives them some much-needed fight. In the meantime, it’s refreshing to see a coach of the Silver and Black make it known he will not stand for his players having a lapse in both effort and heart.
-Alex Monfreda (@AlexMonfreda)
*Top Photo: AP Photo/Rick Scuteri