Beating the Chiefs in KC Should Boost Pierce's Chances

The Las Vegas Raiders have been a different team under Interim Coach Antonio Pierce. Beating the Chiefs on Christmas Day should solidify his position.

The Las Vegas Raiders entered this season with a revamped defense and an offense expected to be one of the best in the National Football League. 

Eight games into the season, the Raiders looked like a shell of the team that made the playoffs two seasons ago. 

New faces at essential positions such as the offensive line and quarterback, among other issues, led to a team that looked lifeless in Coach Josh McDaniels' last game at the helm. 

McDaniels was fired because of the issues on the field and the locker room issues caused by those on-the-field problems. He was let go, in part, because of his inability to connect with the players.

Losses are inevitable in the NFL and every coach experiences them, even Pierce, in his short time at the helm. 

What Pierce has done, however, is completely change the mood in the locker room and connect with the players in a way that few coaches can, even if they are more experienced than Pierce. 

Although Pierce would be the first to acknowledge professional football is a production-based business, his effect on the Raiders has gone beyond wins and losses. 

“I know some of the results haven't been the way we wanted it in the second half, but I still think our purpose has been here," Pierce said. "And the last two weeks, I really put more of an effort and energy of myself and what I deliver, and what our coordinators are delivering to our players in the message. 

"And again, you might see different things that we do at halftime to get going again, to get our juices flowing, and it’s working. We feel good about it. I feel good about it."

The Las Vegas Raiders can compensate for their recent blown leads against the Kansas City Chiefs / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As they hit the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, Pierce is searching for a complete game of football. 

"But the message is clear, man, we get paid to play for 60 minutes," Piercde said. "God dammit, the first 30 needs to look like the last 30, regardless of the outcome. And as long as we do it like that, it's we want it to look like, man. 

"Like love of the game, we want be excited to go because we're only guaranteed three more game. And then we're going to have a long golf season or guess what we might get a might get a ticket to the dance, and we want to hopefully have a chance to play in the dance.” 

There are many questions the Raiders will have to answer after the season. What is not in question, however, is that after their 63-point performance against the Los Angeles Chargers, if the Raiders go on the road and beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 

Pierce's chances of being named the head coach would significantly improve. 

The Silver and Black will return to action versus their AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Don't miss it on Monday, December 25, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.