Aidan O’Connell got the nod as the Las Vegas Raiders‘ starting quarterback for their Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants.
This was seen as a surprising move to many given the organization’s investment in Jimmy Garoppolo in the offseason.
O’Connell played well enough to lead the Raiders to a blowout win while playing turnover-free football.
The Raiders’ interim head coach, Antonio Pierce, has received a lot of credit for the team’s massive win.
O’Connell was quick to compliment him in a postgame interview, saying “Guys believe in him,” adding, “He did a great job.”
Aidan O’Connell: Antonio Pierce did a great job, players believe in him. https://t.co/GfEBQdptjm
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 6, 2023
While Pierce might not be a part of the organization’s long-term plans, he has seemingly gained the respect of the locker room.
For a new coach, that’s all one can ask for.
It can be difficult for players to rally around a coach, especially if they feel like the coach won’t be there for long.
However, given Pierce’s previous role as a linebackers coach for this team, and his experience as a player, the general attitudes seem different about him.
The offense looked significantly better under Pierce than it did when Josh McDaniels was the coach.
Whatever he said or did throughout the week seemed to have an impact on O’Connell, a trend the team would like to continue in the weeks to come.
With this win over the Giants, the Raiders’ record improved to 4-5.
Can they continue to figure out ways to win throughout the rest of the season, perhaps even sneaking into the playoffs as a wild-card team?
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