Raiders-Chiefs: What they’re saying; Antonio Pierce’s inexperience hurts Las Vegas’ playoff hopes

This Week 12 matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs featured the biggest disparity in experience between two head coaches in the league, and it showed on the field as the Chiefs took down the Raiders 31-17.

Starting in 1999 with the Philadephia Eagles, Andy Reid has been an NFL head coach for nearly a quarter century and has been at his current post in Kansas City for the last 10 years. Meanwhile, Pierce has been on the job for about a month after becoming Las Vegas’ interim head coach when Josh McDaniels was fired.

While there’s plenty of blame to go around during the Raiders’ double-digit defeat, Pierce made a few questionable decisions that certainly didn’t help matters.

The first—and least significant—came in the first quarter when he decided to challenge that wide receiver Davante Adams had made the line to gain on a second down catch that set up a third and one for the Silver and Black. Pierce’s challenge was unsuccessful and while the Raiders did convert on third down, they were down one timeout which they could have used at the end of the half and played a role in another misstep the coach made.

With about a minute to go in the second quarter, Kansas City ran the ball on second down, and instead of using a timeout to give his offense time to respond before hitting the locker room, Pierce let the clock run and kept the one timeout he had in his back pocket. If he had another timeout to use, maybe he’d be more inclined to use one in that situation.

Also, a week after being aggressive on fourth down, the young head coach opted for a field goal on fourth and one that Daniel Carlson missed. The switch to being conservative was a clear sign that Pierce is still finding his identity as a head coach.

There were a few other questionable decisions by Pierce that, according to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur , likely prompted a meeting between Pierce and owner Mark Davis as below is a roundup of the post-game press conferences and posts/tweets from X/Twitter.

The QB talking first means the owner got to the coach’s office before Pierce could get to the podium. Immediate feedback.
Good, bad or just odd?

— Vic Tafur November 27, 2023 Pierce gives a quick recap of the game.

Too much Mahomes ... pic.twitter.com/TehQyRhmAk

— Vic Tafur November 27, 2023 Pierce does get credit for getting the Raiders ready to play but, obviously, that wasn’t enough.

Raiders outscored 31-3 by Chiefs to close out game. Now 2-2 with Antonio Pierce and 5-7 overall heading into bye week.

— Vic Tafur November 27, 2023 Cornerback Marcus Peters missed a tackle early in the game and watched from the sidelines for the majority of the contest.

Pierce said #Raiders CB Marcus Peters coming out of the game was a coaches decision.

— Tashan Reed November 27, 2023 Another questionable decision was a fourth-down call that sealed the team’s fate. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell is taking part of the blame, though.

O’Connell said the formation was off on that last 4th and 1 play to Jacobs and that he has to “do a better job of corralling the guys”

— Vic Tafur November 27, 2023 Davante Adams feels Las Vegas beat itself tonight.

“No disrespect to them but it was more about what we were doing.”

-Davante Adams on offense slowing up

Went on to say the difference after being up 14 is “frustrating and confusing too.” #Raiders #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/MjUKb2p1OM

— Logan Reever November 27, 2023 A meeting of the minds between two of the best running backs in franchise history; Marcus Allen and Josh Jacobs. Jacobs joined Allen as the organization’s only backs to have 1,000 yards from scrimmage or more in each of their first five NFL seasons.

Jacobs eclipsed the mark mentioned above on this beautiful 63-yard touchdown run.

Fairly accurate recap of Carlson’s missed kick.

Raiders fans watching Daniel Carlson miss wide right on that FG attempt pic.twitter.com/PAvmbcUTCy

— RaiderRamble.comTM November 26, 2023 Maxx Crosby talks about how healthy he was for today’s game. He played after not practicing all week and being ruled doubtful.

Maxx Crosby when asked what percentage he was today with his knee injury.

“Healthy?”

Chuckling and said he doesn’t have a number for it but was “going through it for sure.” #Raiders #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/rWhein8fge

— Logan Reever November 27, 2023 We’ll end with the most impressive play of the game, a hell of a catch by Jakobi Meyers.

Great throw but an incredible catch by Jakobi Meyers pic.twitter.com/TU9F0oVPEE

— Khaled November 26, 2023