After ten straight losses, the Raiders found themselves in striking distance of the number one overall pick in the draft. Though, to get it, they would have to keep losing.
They didn’t do that Sunday, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 to halt the losing streak. On the flip side, the win drops them from being in position for the top pick to facing the sixth overall pick.
While many fans may be thinking about the future and getting a franchise quarterback atop the draft, the players on this team now as well the coaches are not thinking about that at all. They are thinking about the opponent in front of them.
Pierce was asked about what he says to those fans who want the Raiders to lose for draft position, he said “no comment”. But with his next answer, he gave that message.
“Look, we work 80 hours a week. Staff, players come in here 40+ hours to work. We don’t do this to lose,” said Pierce. “We don’t do this for anybody’s fantasy football team or somebody’s draft projections. None of that s–t matters to us. The only thing that matters is winning. And that’s all we want to do.”
So, for the first time since September — a stretch of nearly three months — the Raiders woke up after a win. They may not be celebrating it much being that the season is long since lost, but it’s certainly a better feeling than watching the losses continue to stack up.