Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was visibly frustrated after his team’s 36-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers in their home opener. During the postgame press conference, Pierce emphasized that some players didn’t give their best effort, hinting that certain individuals were making “business decisions” on the field.
His criticism stemmed from the stark contrast between this loss and the emotional high of last week’s victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Pierce admitted that his team didn’t meet expectations, especially considering the Panthers’ struggles leading into the game.
The defeat was particularly embarrassing for the Raiders, bringing to mind other painful losses in recent years. Fans and analysts compared it to past defeats, such as their loss to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 when Jeff Saturday was coaching his first NFL game, or the game against the Rams led by a newly arrived Baker Mayfield.
This trend of disappointing losses is something the team continues to grapple with, making Sunday’s outcome even harder to swallow given that Carolina had benched their No. 1 pick Bryce Young in favor of veteran Andy Dalton.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, who played through an ankle injury, acknowledged the team’s poor performance but described the loss as a “wake-up call” rather than a disaster.
Crosby admitted that the team has to look in the mirror and improve across the board, though he seemed to remain somewhat optimistic. He finished the game with three tackles but was part of a defense that struggled mightily, giving up over 400 total yards to the Panthers and losing the battle for time of possession.
On offense, the Raiders also faltered, particularly in the running game where they managed only 55 yards. They found themselves trailing 33-7 early in the fourth quarter, making a comeback nearly impossible.
Wide receiver Davante Adams expressed confusion over Pierce’s comments about players making “business decisions,” unsure of what exactly the coach meant. This confusion reflected a larger issue within the team as both players and coaches tried to make sense of the poor performance.
Late in the game, Pierce made the decision to replace starting quarterback Gardner Minshew with Aidan O’Connell. Though the game was already out of reach, O’Connell led a successful touchdown drive, offering a glimpse of his potential.
Both quarterbacks commented on the frustrating loss, with O’Connell remaining hopeful that the team could turn things around in the coming weeks. Despite the disappointment, Pierce and his players stressed the importance of moving forward and correcting their mistakes.
