For just the third time in 2024, Antonio Pierce’s Raiders enjoyed the sweet taste of victory Sunday.
Despite the win, their fans are feeling sour. With just two wins entering Sunday, Las Vegas was in the top two in the 2025 NFL Draft order. Their 19-14 win over the Jaguars decreased their chances of landing such a coveted pick, tossing them into a logjam of 3-12 teams with two games left to play.
In a season that was lost long ago, Raiders fans hoped they’d at least secure a premier pick. Pierce, however, isn’t concerned about draft capital. He’s coaching to win now — and to preserve his job.
“We don’t do this to lose,” Pierce said Monday. “We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team. Don’t do this for anybody’s draft projections. None of that s— matters to us. What matters is winning, and that’s all we want to do.”
Winning is the only thing Pierce can do to improve his chances of retaining his job after his first season as a head coach, a campaign that began with relative optimism and steadily crumbled amid inconsistency at quarterback and an in-season trade request submitted by their best player, Davante Adams.
More often than not, Pierce’s team has found ways to lose. They’re among the worst in the NFL, clearly need a new quarterback, and could be in the market for a new coach.
Sunday’s win finally provided Pierce with a break. Instead of allowing self-inflicted wounds to doom them, his team capitalized on opportunities, leading to a one-score win over Jacksonville. For once, Pierce didn’t appear disgusted on the sideline and had a victory Monday to celebrate.
He’ll keep coaching with the same goal in mind in the Raiders’ final two weeks regardless of what fans think. His job may depend on it.
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