With 7:15 to play in the fourth and the Las Vegas Raiders trailing 16-10, Antonio Pierce chose to punt on a fourth-and-1 at the Chargers 43-yard line. The decision goes against what most modern NFL coaches would do.
The result didn’t make starting quarterback Gardner Minshew happy.
Chargers running back J.K Dobbins housed a 61-yard touchdown run after the punt. The Chargers would win 22-10.
Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, Minshew said he wanted the ball in his hands on the fourth-and-1.
Gardner Minshew on the punt
“That’s Coach’s decision,” said quarterback Gardner Minshew, “But I think anybody that’s a ballplayer wants the ball in their hands with the opportunity to help the team.”
Per ESPN’s analytics department, the Raiders win probably went from 24.8 % if they went for the fourth down to 19.1 % percent by punting.
Antonio Pierce got what he wanted
Pierce defended his decision to punt as the Raiders pinned the Chargers deep into their territory at the Los Angeles 8-yard line.
“I mean, we got what we wanted,” Pierce said, “but they broke off the lone run, and that was the end of it,” he said.
Pierce didn’t appear to trust in his offense to get the job done.
Minshew had two turnovers in the loss. He finished 25/33 passing for 257 yards, and one interception. He also lost a fumble.
If the Raiders had scored more than ten points before Pierce had to make that call, he might have put the ball in Minshew’s hands.
Minshew and Pierce’s answer shows the disconnect the team has between its head coach and quarterback. Pierce didn’t think Minshew or Aidan O’Connell really earned the starting job after training camp.
Pierce’s lack of confidence is being proven right. And it’s why the Raiders are 0-1.
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