The Las Vegas Raiders have been playing much better football during the 2023 NFL season after they decided to let go of former head coach Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels was severely underwhelming as the Raiders’ head coach, but his successor Antonio Pierce has been able to tap into the locker room and get them to play inspired football on both sides of the field.
Immediately after McDaniels’ firing, Pierce led Las Vegas to a modest two-game win streak, though that got snapped in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins.
However, it was a competitive loss for the Raiders who were able to hold the Dolphins to just 20 points, which is a feat given how explosive their players are.
Moral victories don’t count for much, though it should give the fans some optimism that this roster is much closer to competing in the playoffs than some originally thought.
Unfortunately, for Week 12, Las Vegas could find themselves missing a key piece on the defense against the Kansas City Chiefs, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
#Raiders star DE Maxx Crosby (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the #Chiefs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 24, 2023
Maxx Crosby is turning in another All-Pro-worthy season as the team’s defensive leader as he’s been one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league.
If Crosby is ultimately unable to go, Pierce and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will have to find ways to generate pressure off the edge especially against a team like the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.
Divisional games are often times unpredictable, so there’s a chance that Las Vegas can find a way to make things interesting though that’s a tough ask without Crosby lining up.
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