Advertisement
The Raiders were expected to easily beat the struggling Panthers on Sunday, but they didn’t live up to that expectation at all.
Las Vegas ended up losing 36-22, falling behind by as many as 26 points. The offense was slow and uninspired, while the defense couldn’t stop Andy Dalton, who was filling in for rookie quarterback Bryce Young. This was Dalton’s first start, and he picked apart the Raiders’ defense with ease.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, who got the full-time job thanks to his tough, straightforward approach, didn’t sugarcoat things after the loss, which dropped the team’s record to 1-2.
Here’s what Pierce had to say about some of his players making “business decisions” during the game.
Antonio Pierce’s ‘Business Decisions’ Comment
Coaches typically avoid publicly criticizing their players, but Pierce sent a clear message after the game, even if he didn’t name any names. When asked why the Raiders seemed so lifeless against a Panthers team that had been blown out in its previous two games, Pierce responded by saying that some of his players were making “business decisions.”
He didn’t go into detail about which players he was referring to or what he meant exactly by “business decisions.” However, his comment about making his own business decisions going forward hinted that he might be considering changes to the lineup or even cutting some players.
Giving up 36 points to a Panthers offense that had struggled for weeks was a bad look for the Raiders, and the final score didn’t reflect how rough it truly was. They were down 36-7 before scoring two late touchdowns that didn’t affect the outcome.
Pierce Acknowledges Fan Frustration
While Pierce was critical of his team, he wasn’t upset with the fans for expressing their frustration. “We had chances to run the ball, and we didn’t. We tried and tried, and if I were a fan, I would’ve booed us too,” Pierce admitted.
The Raiders’ season would look even worse if they hadn’t pulled off a strong fourth-quarter comeback against the Ravens in Week 2. Through three games, the Raiders have only scored 20 points in the first half, and tensions are rising as they prepare to face another struggling team, the Browns.
In short, Pierce’s remarks made it clear that some players might see their roles reduced or even cut from the roster if things don’t improve soon.