Antonio Pierce has his Las Vegas Raiders rolling. Riding high after their second consecutive victory, a convincing 25-10 triumph over the New Orleans Saints, the Raiders are embracing an "us against the world" mentality as they close out the 2024 season.
This latest win, fueled by a dominant ground game and stifling defense, showcased the Raiders' commitment to Pierce's vision. They controlled the clock, dominating time of possession by over 15 minutes, and executed efficiently on third down, converting 10 of 18 attempts while holding the Saints to a dismal 1 of 10.
"Did everything we talked about – control the line of scrimmage, time of possession, not turning the ball over," Pierce said after the game. "The running game, I thought we were very efficient, especially on third down."
This marked the second straight game without a turnover for the Raiders, a testament to their focus and discipline. The defense, meanwhile, shut out the Saints in the second half, demonstrating their ability to make adjustments and stifle opposing offenses.
Pierce praised his team's resilience and unwavering belief in one another. "Don't blink, they don't flinch. They just go out there and play. They love one another and you can tell obviously they like playing the game of football."
The Raiders' emphasis on third down and red zone efficiency has been a key factor in their recent success. "Between red zone third down back from OTAs and spring ball, that's all we worked on," Pierce explained. "That's something we work on each and every week. The more and more you keep a defense on the field late in the season, you get the points and scores you were getting, especially offensively."
With their playoff hopes still alive, the Raiders are playing with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence. They're not concerned with proving anything to anyone outside their locker room, focusing instead on their internal goals and the bond that unites them. This "us against the world" mentality, combined with their commitment to Pierce's coaching philosophy, has the Raiders firing on all cylinders as they head into the final stretch of the season.
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