HENDERSON, Nev. — What a distinction a 12 months makes.
Cigar smoke and good vibes permeated the Las Vegas Raiders‘ locker room at Allegiant Stadium as legends equivalent to Jim Plunkett, Charles Woodson, Ted Hendricks and Jim Otto joined the staff following its win over the Denver Broncos within the 2023 season finale.
Finishing with a 3-1 flourish — together with 3-0 in opposition to AFC West opponents in that stretch — to go 8-9 general absolutely meant higher occasions had been forward. Then-interim coach Antonio Pierce, who had tapped into the franchise’s DNA as a man who grew up a fan of the Silver and Black in Los Angeles, had gained over a big portion of the fan base along with his gritty model, making continuity key.
But the 2024 marketing campaign led to a lot much less celebratory vogue, when Pierce was fired Tuesday after finishing 4-13 and final within the division. The Raiders are left on the lookout for their fifth coach since 2021.
Sunday’s 34-20 loss to the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers wrapped up a disappointing marketing campaign that included a 10-game dropping streak and their first winless season in opposition to the AFC West since 2006. Victorious cigar events had been changed by head-scratching and shoulder shrugs.
Pierce was elevated to full-time coach in 2024 after impressing Davis sufficient on the finish of his interim stretch and garnering help from star gamers like edge rusher Maxx Crosby and receiver Davante Adams. Both campaigned sufficient for Pierce (Crosby even pseudo-threatened to request a commerce if Pierce was not employed) that Davis did what he had not three years earlier than — follow the favored interim coach.
In 2021, after Rich Bisaccia led the Raiders to their second playoff look since 2002, Davis went the other route, as a substitute hiring Josh McDaniels, who lasted simply 25 video games.
So, why did not Pierce final?
The NFL is a manufacturing enterprise and in Davis’ estimation the Raiders below Pierce merely didn’t produce sufficient wins.
Going winless within the division for the primary time since earlier than drafting JaMarcus Russell is one factor. Winning 4 video games, their fewest since 2018, is one other.
Questionable sport administration selections — when to punt, when to go for it, when to take a timeout — had been additionally a significant situation all season lengthy, regardless of the presence of veteran former head coaches equivalent to Marvin Lewis, Joe Philbin and Norv Turner on the employees.
Plus, the Raiders trailed by double digits in 15 of 17 video games and three of their 4 wins had been in opposition to groups that went a mixed 12-37. Pierce, who promised a punishing working sport, noticed the Raiders end final in speeding. One shiny spot was the protection, which entered Week 18 as a top-10 whole protection.
In an alternate universe, the Raiders finagled a commerce to draft quarterback Jayden Daniels and employed offensive playcaller Kliff Kingsbury, reasonably than signed veteran QB Gardner Minshew and employed former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy for a similar position.
In the true world, Minshew battled accidents and ineffectiveness earlier than being misplaced for the season with a damaged collarbone on Nov. 24. Getsy was fired after a Week 9 loss on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell additionally had hassle staying on the sphere, lacking 4 video games with a damaged thumb on his proper (passing) hand and one other with a bruised left knee.
Injuries wrecked different components of the roster, with starters equivalent to Crosby, Minshew, high-priced free-agent defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, cornerback Jakorian Bennett, security Marcus Epps, defensive finish Malcolm Koonce and working again Zamir White ending the season on injured reserve.
But maybe the mortal wound was dropping Adams, extra so mentally than bodily, after he requested the staff to commerce him within the days following a Week 4 win over the Cleveland Browns.
As one staff supply mentioned, a participant coming within the morning after a feel-good win to request a commerce was “exceptional.” By the time the Raiders despatched him to the New York Jets for a third-round choose on Oct. 15, Las Vegas hoped it might be addition by subtraction.
For what it is value, the Jets completed with another win than the Raiders and Adams completed with 85 catches for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns whereas Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers had 87 receptions for 1,027 yards and 4 TDs.
But finally, the Raiders’ celebratory smoke-filled locker room of January 2024 was changed by uncertainty and pleasantries on Sunday.
“Shout out to AP as a result of he saved the fellows motivated, even once you’re dropping so many in a row,” Meyers mentioned. “That’s onerous as an expert. That’s onerous as a competitor, typically. AP simply did a terrific job in retaining us going and understanding what the aim is on the finish of the day.”
Rookie Brock Bowers, whose 112 catches had been the third most by a good finish in NFL historical past, echoed Meyers’ stance.
“I actually appreciated AP as a coach,” mentioned Bowers, who was chosen for the Pro Bowl. “I do know selections are made and it is as much as sure folks and never us, so I haven’t got any management over that. But I actually appreciated enjoying for him and I believed he was a terrific coach.”
The theme of motivation additionally wafted over the Raiders’ beleaguered QB room.
“He did a terrific job of that,” O’Connell mentioned of Pierce. “[He] tried to talk to the fellows that needed to proceed to battle.
“Guys continued to point out as much as work and do the precise issues and simply tried to chip away.”
In the top, motivation didn’t trump lack of wins. Or a perceived lack of progress.
The X issue, after all, is Davis’ consigliere and minority proprietor Tom Brady, and the way a lot juice he’ll have in decision-making.
“I feel,” Pierce mentioned after the loss to the Chargers, “everyone sees the evident want.”
Coach or QB? Take it how you’ll.
