Photo Credit: AP/Lynne Sladky
As the football hung in the air during the final seconds of Monday night’s game, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce had one thought:
“I just needed it to come down in Silver and Black,” Pierce said with a weary grin.
“We need a break, right? We need a little prayer. It just didn’t go our way.”
But luck wasn’t on Las Vegas’ side. Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers initially got his hands on Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder’s Hail Mary pass, but it ended up in the grasp of Atlanta safety Jessie Bates III for a game-ending interception.
Final score: Falcons 15, Raiders 9.
This marked the Raiders’ 10th straight loss, tying their longest in-season losing streak since starting 0-10 in 2014. Now sitting at 2-12, Las Vegas is tied with the New York Giants for the NFL’s worst record. If the draft were held today, the Raiders would hold the No. 2 overall pick, a position critical for their quarterback-needy roster.
A Season of Struggles
The Raiders’ season began with high hopes but quickly spiraled due to injuries, inconsistent play, and a trade request from star receiver Davante Adams. Their roster has been decimated, with key defensive players like Maxx Crosby, Malcolm Koonce, Christian Wilkins, Jakorian Bennett, and Marcus Epps sidelined.
On offense, it’s been a revolving door at quarterback. Desmond Ridder became the third starter this season after Gardner Minshew suffered a broken collarbone in November, and rookie Aidan O’Connell has dealt with both a broken thumb and a bone bruise. Meanwhile, the running back rotation has been unstable, and it took half the season to solidify the offensive line.
“It’s tough being in the position we are,” Ridder said. “I mean, we’re just searching, searching for a win, searching for positive energy. We fight every single week, but we just keep saying we fight, but nothing’s happening to where we can go push over the edge and get a win.”
“At the end of the day, we all got to be better,” he said. “I got to be better. O-line, D-line, offense, defense, I mean, special teams, we just got to be better.”
Despite the adversity, Pierce insists the team remains united.
“Guys are all-in,” Pierce said. “Listen, man, just, we’re not winning. What else do you want me to tell y’all. We’re not winning. S—, do I want to win? Hell yeah, I want to win. Do I want to keep sitting here looking at the same goddamn thing every weekend and have the same discussion with y’all? No.”
Close Calls but No Wins
The Raiders have come painfully close in recent weeks, with two of their last three losses decided by one score. Against the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday, a botched snap cost them a chance at a game-winning field goal.
The team’s last victory came back on September 29 against the Cleveland Browns. Since then, injuries and missed opportunities have defined their season.
Injuries have also sidelined role players like receiver D.J. Turner, linebacker Luke Masterson, and running back Sincere McCormick, leaving the Raiders with 13 players on injured reserve.
“We’ve got guys that’s battling, don’t matter,” Pierce said. “Next man up, right? You can poke the armor and do all this stuff, but these guys are not budging. I’m not budging. We’ll keep chopping wood and at some point, the damn thing will break and go our way.”
Looking Ahead
With three games left—against the Jaguars (3-11), Saints (5-9), and Chargers (8-6)—the Raiders still have a chance to end the season on a high note, though speculation about Pierce’s job security looms large.
Raiders owner Mark Davis recently clarified that Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco are not a package deal, emphasizing that their futures will be evaluated separately.
Asked about his status after Monday’s loss, Pierce remained focused.
“Me and Mark Davis talk often,” Pierce said. “And the conversation has been the same as they always are — very positive.”
Since 2021, the Raiders have had four head coaches, including Pierce, Jon Gruden, Rich Bisaccia, and Josh McDaniels. Whether Pierce has done enough to secure his role for 2025 remains uncertain, but his response to the question was simple:
“I’m under contract.”
For a team stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of bad luck, that sentiment sums up the mood perfectly.
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This report used information from ESPN.
