The losses keep piling up for the Las Vegas Raiders, but head coach Antonio Pierce remains poised in the face of it all. He’s adamant that no one’s quitting, not within his team nor in the building.
When looking at how things have progressed for Pierce’s squad, no one would bat an eye if you questioned whether people are tuning him out.
One of the reasons that players rallied around Pierce late last season was because of his ability to tap into the locker room. He could relate to them and understand them—as a result, they played hard for him. Fast forward to Week 12 of the 2024 season (and in his first year without the “interim” tag), and Pierce sits atop a huge mess.
Still, if you ask the former Super Bowl-winning linebacker, this Raiders team isn’t just going to fade away or stop going out on the field to try and win every week. He even said as much while addressing the media after the latest loss simmered for 24 hours.
“What I’m seeing from our players is that I don’t see anybody quitting. I don’t see anybody quit in this building; I don’t see no quit from our staff. I see everybody just trying to figure out ways and answers in a very fluid situation with injuries and everything else that’s going on with our team this year.”
Is it too little, too late for Antonio Pierce and the Raiders?
Pierce is right; everyone on the Raiders is surely trying to figure things out. However, considering how late we are in the season, this team still lacks a clear identity—changing the offensive coordinator didn’t help matters against the Miami Dolphins either. No one’s quitting, as Pierce remarked, but no one’s fixing the problems as well.
When the situation appears dire with several games remaining, what actions should a Raiders player take? No professional player in the NFL will ever acknowledge or agree with the concept of a “tank.” Following the Dolphins loss, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby summed up the vibe within the locker room when he too spoke to the media. The only action left to take is to keep playing.
Maxx Crosby: “We’re just playing for pride at this point.”
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) November 17, 2024
As the Raiders head back to the confines of Allegiant Stadium this week, things won’t get any easier. The upstart Denver Broncos, led by rookie standout Bo Nix, will present a formidable challenge. More importantly, the Raiders’ anemic offense will go up against the Broncos’ defense, which prior to Week 11 was the fifth-best unit in the league (total defense). It’s beneficial that no one’s quitting, right?
*Top Photo: Getty Images
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