The Las Vegas Raiders have playoff aspirations heading into 2024, as the team added a variety of young and veteran talent to the roster this offseason.
Though the Raiders are good enough to compete for a playoff spot this season, USA Today projects a disappointing 6-11 campaign for the Silver and Black. Along with the deflating record prediction, CBS Sports ranked Antonio Pierce as the 28th-best head coach in the NFL.
These projections from the national media didn’t sit well with Raiders players, who are clearly keeping the receipts.
Linebacker Robert Spillane, who snagged three interceptions and posted an 89.0 run-defense grade in 2023, said the disrespectful rankings made him “pissed off and angry.”
The 28-year-old also stated that he tries to avoid the media’s opinion but admitted it will add “fuel to the fire.”
Cornerback Jack Jones has known Pierce since he was in high school and spoke about Pierce’s low ranking on the head coaches list, along with USA TODAY abysmal record prediction on Thursday.
“Him being ranked the 28th coach I feel like they was disrespecting me, the team, him,” Jones said. “I don’t like that. That set a fire under me. We gonna show everybody 6-11 is crazy”
Pierce weighed in on his players’ frustration about the media’s perception of the team on Friday.
“As you know, our team is very outspoken and when they feel something they talk about it but I think they both said the right thing, that we gotta go out there and change the narrative and that’s what our plan is,” Pierce said.
Though the Raiders aren’t a Super Bowl contender, the team is too talented on paper to suffer another losing season.
If Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew can provide solid quarterback play, and the defense can establish itself as one of the better units in the league like many expect, a postseason appearance is certainly in the realm of possibilities for the Silver and Black in the 2024 campaign.
