The 2023 NFL season for the Las Vegas Raiders has been a tail of two halves. The first half was a disaster and it resulted in the Raiders making a big change. They fired head coach Josh McDaniels after falling to 3-5 and Antonio Pierce has taken over since then.
Was this the right move for the Raiders? The answer is an emphatic yes. Now, Pierce is making a case to retain the position permanently.
Las Vegas Raiders Stats With Antonio Pierce
Vic Tafur, who is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, tweeted a graphic noting just how good the Raiders have been since Pierce took the job from McDaniels. There are a few notable categories that stand out.
Since Week 9, the Las Vegas Raiders rank first in points allowed per game (15.3), defensive touchdowns (4), and penalties (24). If that was not enough, Las Vegas ranks fifth in sacks (24) and sixth in takeaways (13). It is safe to say that the defense has stepped up since Pierce took over.
The most important category should be the Raiders’ record. Before Pierce, the team was just 3-5. Since then, they are 4-3. While it is not outstanding, it is clearly a step in the right direction.
Antonio Pierce’s Background
Antonio Pierce played in the NFL for nine seasons as a linebacker. His most notable stint was with the New York Giants. It was there he secured his only Super Bowl ring during the Giants’ improbable 2007 run. After he retired from the NFL in 2009, Pierce was looking to start the next chapter of his life.
Five years later, he got into coaching. It started at the high school level for four seasons. Then, he was with the Arizona State Sun Devils program for four seasons.
Then, in 2022, Pierce moved up to the NFL level as a linebackers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. He remained in this position until the middle of the 2023 NFL season. After McDaniels was fired, Pierce became the interim head coach.
Las Vegas Raiders Moving Forward
Admittedly, the Raiders have an uphill battle to make the playoffs this season. Their final two games are against the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos. However, even if Las Vegas ends up missing the playoffs, there is a good argument that Pierce is the right man for the job moving forward.
Get More NFL Content
For more news and trends around the NFL, click here or follow me on Twitter @JohnGalletley.