Change Of Work Culture At Raiders Under Interim Head Coach Pierce Serves As Reboot After McDaniels-Ziegler Administration; Final: Raiders 16 Jets 12 On SNF
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Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
A blank piece of paper.
A blank slate.
A rebirth.
New Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce, an intense former NFL linebacker, used the concept of a blank page to tell Raiders players that the ouster of former coach Josh McDaniels means a new beginning and a fresh start.
A few days later, the Raiders routed the New York Giants, 30-6 a week ago.
UNLV’s first-year football coach, Barry Odom, a former fiery college football linebacker, told his players that they, too, have a fresh start and can write their own narrative in 2023.
The Rebels players, who share Allegiant Stadium with the Raiders, have assembled a turnaround season after years of losing by winning eight of ten games this season. If they win their final two games against Air Force and San Jose State, UNLV will host the Mountain West Conference championship game.
In management terms, Raiders owner Mark Davis cleaned house by dispatching McDaniels and McDaniels’ pal, former Raiders General Manager Dave Ziegler.
And like in any business or industry, a management firing represented the transition of one business style to another.
In this case, it was McDaniels’ overbearing, no-fun style eclipsed by Pierce’s player-first approach that cultivated an attitude that players can be themselves while putting in the work on the gridiron and in the planning sessions.
Pierce played an active role in communicating with players.
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Pierce promptly replaced Ziegler/McDaniels-picked quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with rookie Aidan O’Connell, who impressed fans during spring training with his accurate throws and poise.
LVSportsBiz.com learned from a source that players’ complaints about McDaniels’ style started months ago.
But now the work culture is different under Pierce.
You can sense it in the body language of the players like Jacobs, whose has returned to his hard-running style that helped him lead the National Football League in rushing in 2022. Tonight, Jacobs ran 27 times for 116 yards, including a big gainer that set up the winning touchdown.
Davis wanted the players to feel good about being a Raider and even he seems rejuvenated by team’s reboot after McDaniels won three of eight games this season following a 6-11 campaign in 2022.
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The first half of the Raiders-Jets game was a battle of field goals as New York led Las Vegas, 9-6.
The Jets outgained the Raiders, 196-137, in the first half as the young quarterbacks, the Jets’ Zach Wilson and the Raiders’ O’Connell battled tough defenses. The Jets had one more play, 32-31, with an interception thrown by O’Connell serving as the difference in a three-point game after 30 minutes.
The Raiders, minus their best blocker, tackle Kolton Miller, are playing for Pierce in a way that is reminiscent of the effort players showed under former interim coach Rich Bisaccia in 2021 when the Raiders finished 10-7 and made the playoffs two seasons ago.
Placekicker Daniel Carlson booted his third field goal, this time from 40 yards, and the Raiders tied the game at nine apiece in the third quarter.
Jacobs looked like the runner we saw in 2022.
And early in the fourth quarter, O’Connell tossed a touchdown pass to fellow rookie Michael Mayer, and the Raiders seized a 16-9 lead after that big Jacobs 40-yard run.
Mayer’s catch:
The Raiders led the Jets, 16-12, but New York was moving the football looking to score a go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes to go when Las Vegas linebacker Robert Spillane made an interception to thwart the drive. He also made this announcement:
After getting the game-winning interception, Robert Spillane announces that he and his wife are expecting their first child. pic.twitter.com/7iVGU9m9yA
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 13, 2023
The Jets got the ball back for one final drive attempt.
One final toss into the end zone by the Jets’ Wilson was batted away and the Raiders emerged with their second straight win under Pierce.
Final: Raiders 16 Jets 12
The Raiders improved to 5-5.
Postgame. defensive end Maxx Crosby talked about Pierce advising the team’s players to feed off each other’s energy and be on the same page.
Crosby talking about Pierce telling team to feed off each other’s energy and be on the same page pic.twitter.com/TLXB6jnFfR
— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) November 13, 2023
Crosby on holding Jets to 12 points pic.twitter.com/R1wLwM3ioL
— LVSportsBiz.com (@LVSportsBiz) November 13, 2023
The Jets’ injured quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, was in the house and had a reunion with his pal, Davante Adams.
The crowd had a Raiders fans’ feel after many visiting teams like the Steelers enjoyed a big turnout by their fans in the Raiders’ home stadium. The majority of the announced crowd of 62,383 were Raiders faithful.
