Pierce blasts Raiders: 'Enterprise choices' in loss

LAS VEGAS — Antonio Pierce angrily rocked forwards and backwards for greater than 5 minutes on the postgame podium, the Las Vegas Raiders coach trying to find solutions within the wake of his staff’s gorgeous 36-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Pierce was positive of 1 factor: His staff didn’t present up for its house opener — and he went in on some unnamed gamers.

“As the sport went on,” Pierce stated, “I feel there was undoubtedly some people that made enterprise choices. And we’ll make enterprise choices going ahead, as effectively.

“We bought our ass whupped … I’d have booed us too.”

Given what was on the desk — a festive house opener after final week’s emotional comeback win on the Baltimore Ravens, the heretofore winless Panthers having benched their former No. 1 draft decide Bryce Young in favor of 14th-year veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and the Raiders’ offense having seemingly caught up with the staff’s opportunistic protection — this loss, to longtime observers, was corresponding to a number of embarrassing defeats in latest reminiscence.

From shedding to the Indianapolis Colts and former highschool coach Jeff Saturday in 2022 in his first NFL recreation on the helm — the fallout of which led to then-Raiders QB Derek Carr crying on the podium — to falling to Baker Mayfield two days after he joined the Los Angeles Rams later that very same season to final season’s defeat on the Chicago Bears, who began undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent at quarterback.

The distinction? These Raiders have been completely dominated by Dalton and the Panthers.

“We have got lots of people that should look within the mirror,” stated Raiders defensive finish Maxx Crosby, who was severely hampered by a left excessive ankle sprain suffered on the second-to-last play of the Raiders’ win at Baltimore and completed Sunday with three tackles and a cross defensed.

“All people’s bought to proceed getting higher. It isn’t the top of the world, but it surely’s a wake-up name, you recognize what I imply? We have got to be higher. Interval. Easy as that.”

The Raiders surrendered 437 whole yards to Dalton & Co., who additionally dominated the time of possession 36:02 to 23:58. Offensively, solely 55 of Las Vegas’ 331 offensive yards got here on the bottom. And the Raiders trailed by as a lot as 33-7 early within the fourth quarter.

Raiders large receiver Davante Adams appeared puzzled by Pierce’s declare of gamers making “enterprise choices” late within the recreation.

“I really feel like, I do not know, that is powerful for me to establish that,” stated Adams, who had 4 catches on 9 targets for 40 yards. “I am unsure.”

Crosby supplied his take.

“I do not know. There’s loads of issues. You have to watch the movie,” he stated. “Simply wasn’t adequate. Only a dangerous loss. I imply, s—ty. We did not play our greatest soccer.”

In the meantime, Pierce stated not a lot needs to be gleaned from his changing beginning quarterback Gardner Minshew with Aidan O’Connell with 4:47 to play and Las Vegas trailing 36-15.

“The sport was form of out of hand, and we have got two quarterbacks that battled,” Pierce stated in reference to the coaching camp competitors, ultimately gained by Minshew. “Let the opposite man go in there and see what he can do for a bit bit.”

O’Connell led the Raiders on a 13-play, 70-yard landing drive, finishing 9 of 12 passes for 82 yards, together with an 8-yard TD to Tre Tucker, whereas one other cross was almost intercepted.

Minshew, in the meantime, handed for 214 yards in finishing 18 of 28 makes an attempt with a 13-yard TD cross to Jakobi Meyers and an interception.

“It sucks, clearly, particularly at house,” O’Connell stated. “You needed to take one other step ahead and, hopefully, get a win right here, however we’ll bounce again. Benefit of soccer is there’s all the time the sport subsequent week.”