The Raiders from Las Vegas are prepared for Sunday’s game as they continue their playoff drive. They are traveling to Indianapolis to play the Indianapolis Colts in a game that might decide the fate of both clubs.
In most postseason scenarios, the Raiders would be out of the running if they lost. With his leadership, interim head coach Antonio Pierce has contributed to the team’s current position. Since Week 9, the defense has developed into one of the finest in the NFL, helping the team to a 4-3 record.
Mark Davis has taken notice of this and is considering whether to make Pierce a full-time employee and drop the interim designation. This morning, NFL.com revealed that Mark Davis finds pleasure in what he observes on the field.
Owner Mark Davis has expressed to those close to him his growing admiration for interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who has led the team to four wins since taking over for Josh McDaniels, the most recent of which was a 20-14 victory over Kansas City last week.
However, as Davis makes his decision—also going back to the Patriot way—the allegations about Harbaugh and Gruden continue to circulate.
According to Davis, you need a well-known coach in Las Vegas, and his two current coaches—Jon Gruden and McDaniels—fit the description. This time, who might it be? If Bill Belichick becomes available, he is undoubtedly one, but after McDaniels’ 9–16 season, it is difficult to think a return to the Patriot Way would go down well in the locker room. Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of Michigan and a former Raider,
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The Las Vegas Raiders have won the last two games thanks in large part to their physicality. It’s time to watch how the Silver & Black react to the Indianapolis Colts, a squad that plays with the same brute force as them.
Antonio Pierce, the interim head coach, has high expectations for the Week 17 away game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
During his early-week press conference, Pierce responded to a question about the Colts by calling them “a physical football team.” “They came in here last year and did a pretty good job of pursuing us.” Naturally, we’ll be anticipating their finest football. They are good right away. Correct, on both sides. We have to deal with the O- and D-lines. We saw that big running back last year. For us, it wasn’t attractive.
Colts defeated Raiders 25–20.
Under the direction of offensive play caller and head coach Shane Steichen, this year’s version of the horsemen is a well-rounded team. At tailback for his assault, Taylor and Zack Moss have combined for 1,221 yards and 10 touchdowns; Moss has 764 yards on 177 attempts, while Taylor has 457 yards on 118 totes. But Moss was ruled out of the game on Sunday.
Gardner Minshew, the starting quarterback after promising youngster Anthony Richardson was sidelined with a season-ending injury, leads the aerial assault with 2,940 yards with 14 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 11 starts. Big wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who has 99 catches for 1,062 yards and four touchdowns this season, is Minshew’s favorite target.
“And quarterback, we need to exercise caution around him.” “He’s cunning, and cunningly good,” Pierce remarked of Minshew. And since joining them, he’s performed incredibly well; you can’t even tell if he’s a backup. You are ignorant. Given his play and manner of doing things, I would assume he was the starter from the beginning.
The Colts are hoping to recover at home following a crushing 29-10 loss on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. It will be crucial to start the ground and pound run game and involve the 6-foot-4, 223-pound Pittman through the air. The Raiders must put up another strong showing in the trenches on both sides of the ball, and their assured secondary needs to be cautious while covering opponents.
What a Rush
The efficacy of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s approach is demonstrated by the Colts defense, which features four defensive lineman with more than five sacks. Samson Ebukam leads the group with 9.5 sacks, followed by Kwity Paye (8.5), Samson Ebukam (8), and DeForest Buckner (6.0), according to the former Raiders play caller.
Kenny Moore, an all-around cornerback with 91 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), leads the secondary. Bradley’s team is in second place in touchdowns yielded (17), interceptions (15), and yards allowed (14th) despite the loss of safety Julian Blackmon (88 total tackles and four interceptions, team-high).
“Obviously, they run a very strong scheme for their squad, and their defensive staff is quite familiar with our guys. The game will be physically demanding,” Pierce said.
Maxx Volume
Conversely, the Raiders defense is also engaging in bullying behavior. Leading the way in takeaways and points scored is Patrick Graham’s team, led by Maxx Crosby (82 total tackles, 13.5 sacks). In contrast to Crosby, Malcolm Koonce (seven sacks) established himself as a reliable pass rusher, while Jack Jones, a late arrival, is making an impression at cornerback with two pick-sixes (one in the Raiders’ previous two games).
The physical approach resulted from Pierce’s desires once he was elevated to the position of interim manager.
“Recall that on the first day I stood here, I stated that my challenge was to equal Maxx’s energy.” Now that you’re seeing it, I believe you’ve seen our defense equal Maxx’s effort, energy, and output,” Pierce remarked. “Well, it was Robert Spillane at first, but now it’s a few other individuals. You’re now witnessing eleven rogue boys hunting in every play. I take it that it’s now a race to the ball? I refer to it as “roll calling the ball,” when everyone gets to wear an 11-hat and be included in the family photo.
Therefore, it gives me great satisfaction to see people accept what we want. And when we get that, you get the product that you got on the field.”
Playoff Push
The Colts are naturally dangerous because they can still make the playoffs. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans are all tied for first place in the AFC South. Indianapolis is one of these three clubs. Jacksonville, who swept Indianapolis this season, probably has a number of tiebreakers.
Indianapolis must defeat the Raiders on Sunday and the Texans in the regular-season finale in order to stay on pace.
In contrast, the Raiders (7-8) have almost little chance of making the postseason. Winning the final two games of the season would be fantastic, and the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs gave the team new life in the playoffs, but they still need a lot of support from other places to even be considered for a wildcard slot.
Pierce said that the club is taking each game as it comes and isn’t planning ahead.
At his midweek press conference, Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell stated, “Yeah, I think when you get to this point of the year everybody’s fighting and been playing football for a long time, so I think it’s going to be a really good challenge for us.” O’Connell was speaking about securing a playoff spot. “We’re going to have to travel for two straight games.
