Closeness of Raiders' Defense Translating to the Field

The Las Vegas Raiders have a close-knit roster of defensive players. Their closeness has translated to success not seen by a Raiders defense in several seasons.

It is said that football is the ultimate team game. For the Las Vegas Raiders' defense, that is a sum of all their parts; that couldn't be more true. 

Many teams have talented defenses, but not many teams in the National Football League have a defense that has played as well together as Las Vegas has this season.  

"I think [Defensive Coordinator] Patrick [Graham], the staff, even when I was there at the linebacker position as a coach, we just kept talking about the process and trusting and believing it and staying within the scheme, letting the plays come to you," Interim Coach Antonio Pierce said.

"We know where all the attention goes to on our defense. It's to our left side with No. 98 [Maxx Crosby] -- there are opportunities there for the rest of our defense to make plays. And if we do our job, and we do it each and every snap, it gives you that opportunity."

The Las Vegas Raiders' defense has become one of the better defenses in the National Football League.  / © Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Pierce points to the leadership of Graham's influence on the defense. 

"And you saw last week with Malcolm Koonce, you saw it with [Robert] Spillane, you saw it with Jack Jones, you saw it with Tyree [Wilson]," Pierce said. "Now, what you're seeing is everybody contributing to a defense that Patrick is sitting upstairs, and you don't really have to do too much. The players are playing at a speed and a physicality that less is more.

"We allow them to use their God-given physical attributes, and let them put that on display, and then you put them in a position to make plays. And I think that's all come together.

"It's a group that believes in one another. They have fun with one another. I mean, I don't know what it looked like from the top down or television, but on the sidelines, it's real juicy. Guys are having fun, man, and that's good. When you're having a good defense, you celebrate everybody's success." 

The Raiders may have found a promising nucleus for the defense going forward. Finding a way to beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day would be the stamp of legitimacy their defense has been searching for. 

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.

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