When Antonio Pierce took over because the Las Vegas Raiders’ interim head coach, he created a practice of smoking victory cigars after each win. Now that Pierce has the full-time job in 2024, the Raiders haven’t lit up a stogie because the first month of the season.
The 28-13 Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers makes it 9 video games in a row that the Raiders have dropped whereas the group and head coach have turn into a damaged report this fall, repeating the identical errors time and again.
Pierce’s game-management has been a difficulty all season and Sunday’s first occasion got here when he challenged a Tre Tucker sideline catch that wasn’t even shut. On prime of that, Las Vegas had alternatives to go for it on fourth and quick on back-to-back drives and opted to punt each instances.
The most egregious choice to punt got here on the second fourth down. The Raiders have been down by 4 and had simply picked up eight yards on third and 9 to arrange fourth and one. Running again Sincere McCormick averaged 5.2 yards per rush on the afternoon and had transformed a brief yardage try earlier within the sport, however Las Vegas punted the ball away as an alternative of rolling the cube.
Granted, the Silver and Black have been on their very own 29-yard-line. However, with a 2-10 report, what did the group need to lose? Also, the Buccaneers marched proper down the sphere on the next possession to take a two-score lead anyway, a poetic ending to a cowardly choice.
The different main theme that continued was the Raiders’ terrible quarterback play. Aidan O’Connell was 11-19 for 104 yards and an interception along with a misplaced fumble earlier than leaving the sport early with an harm.
Combine all of that and also you get a group that’s 2-11 heading into the ultimate 4 weeks of the marketing campaign, resulting in some pissed off posts on X/Twitter.
The problem that wasn’t shut…
Pierce speaking concerning the group post-game.
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce’s message to the group after a ninth straight loss
“I admire the trouble, the grit, the struggle. Listen, it is powerful. And these guys aren’t flinching, not blinking, they nonetheless imagine… All these guys are preventing till the very finish.” #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/AYEE8Bl3SO
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) December 8, 2024
More sport administration points.
Can’t overstate how poorly Antonio Pierce dealt with each large choice on this one.
Calls his final timeout with 2:02 on the clock (as an alternative of letting the 2 minute warning cease it). As a outcome?
Buccaneers don’t need to run the ball to drive ultimate timeout to be burned…TD. https://t.co/Jrtb15y6K2
— Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel) December 8, 2024
Sounds like O’Connell’s season could be over.
Pierce stated “doesn’t look good” when requested about O’Connell’s harm
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) December 8, 2024
The play O’Connell bought injured on ought to have been roughing the passer.
Six totally different beginning quarterbacks since Derek Carr, yikes…
The #Raiders‘ beginning QBs since Derek Carr bought benched in 2022:
– Jarrett Stidham
– Jimmy Garoppolo
– Aidan O’Connell
– Garoppolo (once more)
– Brian Hoyer
– Garoppolo (once more)
– O’Connell (once more)
– Gardner Minshew
– O’Connell (once more)
– Minshew (once more)
– O’Connell (once more)
– Desmond…— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 8, 2024
Raiders have the No. 1 decide with the Jaguars successful, will Shedeur Sanders be the seventh starter after Carr?
This was a sick play from Brock Bowers, although, and Bowers made some historical past at present.
Great run from McCormick.
