In the midst of a brutal season, the Las Vegas Raiders need to look in the mirror.
Buoyed by confidence and strong play, the franchise ended the 2024 season with hope. Now, sitting at 2-11, the team must look within to figure out what to do and how to hold those accountable for the team's dismal 2024. Without hyperbole, if a winning team spreads the praise, then a losing one must share the blame.
Here is who needs to accept the most blame for the disaster that has been the 2024 seaosn in Las Vegas.
Last season, the team united behind Pierce's leadership and motivation. After defeating the Chiefs in Kansas City last Christmas Eve, all signs pointed to the team trending upward. The offseason presented Pierce with an opportunity to smooth the rough edges and round out his staff by hiring a quality offensive coordinator. Instead, he tapped Luke Getsy to lead the offense.
The same Luke Getsy, who struggled to make the Bears look component. A coach universally panned by not only players but the media alike. Under Getsy, the Raiders failed to score at least twenty-one points in six of nine games. Plus, the offense tallied 300-plus yards just three times before the team fired him. Pierce, after playing and coaching in the NFL, must know that winning teams need actual game plans and not just rah-rah speeches and soundbites.
The Players
When the topic of the team not retaining Pierce floated last season, several played vociferously opined. At the top of the list, Maxx Crosby. The unquestioned leader of the defense, Crosby public stated that he would entertain trade offers if the team did not make Pierce the permanent head coach. In what world should players force an owner's hand when it comes to coaching hires? Mark Davis, based on the recency bias of the Chiefs victory and player demands, caved in. Many praised the players for standing up for the coach. Well, Pierce became coach and the team currently wallows in a nine-game losing streak and the onus falls squarely upon the players.
Bottom Line
The Raiders, as an organization, need to re-apply the guardrails. First, firing Antonio Pierce looks like the smartest move. The team is only on the hook for another year, contractually speaking. Due to the atrocious on-field results, the team can attack the draft with ferocity. Moreover, with 112 million dollars in cap space, the team can rebuild on the fly with a mix of veterans and young talent. Either way, the Las Vegas Raiders need to hold responsible parties accountable first, then take appropriate measures.
