Analytics Don't Lie: Pierce and the Raiders Offense

The Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach, Antonio Pierce, took over for a man universally lauded around the NFL as an offensive guru, but the analytics suggest something else.

With the elevation of Antonio Pierce to head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders have found success in many different categories of play. 

Key factors such as offensive points per game, yards per game, and sacks allowed per game are vital in the search for offensive success in the NFL. When analyzing the numbers, there is a significantly positive difference in these factors when looking at them in weeks 9-17 under Antonio Pierce versus weeks 1-8 under Josh McDaniels.

Under former head coach Josh McDaniels, during the 2023 regular season (weeks 1-8), the Las Vegas Raiders allowed 22 sacks. 

During this time, the Raiders allowed an average of 2.75 sacks per game. After a substantial loss to the Detroit Lions in week 8, Mark Davis made the conscious decision to part ways with Josh McDaniels. He looked to linebacker coach Antonio Pierce to take the reins and address this and other ongoing concerns.

A defensive star and coach, when Antonio Pierce took over the Las Vegas Raiders, the offense unquestionably improved / Darrell Craig Harris, Raiders Today

Antonio Pierce held the head coaching position for the remainder of the 2023 regular season (weeks 9-17), with his first challenge coming in a must-win matchup against the New York Giants in week 9. Under the leadership of Pierce, the Raiders allowed an overall total of 18 sacks, with an average of 2 sacks allowed per game.

Along with concerns surrounding the number of sacks allowed, a direct correlation to finding success offensively in the NFL is how many yards a team can produce per game in both passing and rushing. Under McDaniels, the Raiders had 2,146 total passing and rushing yards in weeks 1-8 of the 2023 regular season. This total consisted of 1,586 passing yards and 560 rushing yards. During this time, the Raiders averaged 198.25 passing yards per game and 70 rushing yards per game.

With Pierce in the head coach position, the Raiders fostered significant improvement in yards per game for the remainder of the season. The Raiders produced 2,776 passing and rushing yards during weeks 9-17. This total consisted of 1,794 passing yards and 982 rushing yards. Under Pierce, the Raiders averaged 199.33 passing yards per game and 109.11 rushing yards per game. These results presented a notable and positive difference from the season's first eight weeks.

The offensive struggles for the Raiders did not stop at producing a lackluster number of yards or allowing a significant number of sacks. With McDaniels in the head coaching seat, the Raiders struggled to produce offensive points in weeks 1-8 of the regular season, putting up 119 offensive points. Under McDaniels, the Raiders averaged 14.88 offensive points per game.

After the takeover of Antonio Pierce, the Raiders found offensive success by producing 178 total offensive points. In weeks 9-17, the Raiders scored an average of 19.78 offensive points per game.

When looking into the offensive numbers produced by the Las Vegas Raiders, it is clear that they struggled to find offensive success early in the season under Josh McDaniels. In weeks 1-8, the Raiders failed to protect the quarterback, produce significant passing and rushing yards, and score a sustainable number of points per game. The failure to address these crucial factors almost certainly contributed to their inability to win and the decision to elevate Antonio Pierce to interim head coach in an attempt to address the ongoing failures of the Raiders.

Under Antonio Pierce, the Raiders fully displayed a revitalized approach to their offensive play. In weeks 9-17, under Pierce, the Raiders could protect the quarterback, produce significant passing and rushing yards, and score an average of more points per game.

Antonio Pierce has now been named the head coach for the 2023-2024 NFL season and will have an opportunity to put this continued success on display. 

From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.

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