The Raiders game this week is far from a marque matchup — unless you’re coach Antonio Pierce.
He likely needs to win one or two of Las Vegas’ last three games to keep his job after this season. This week presents a prime opportunity, as the Raiders (2-12) will face the struggling Jaguars (3-11) at Allegiant Stadium.
Of course, Las Vegas is flailing, too, having lost 10 straight games. According to 506sports.com, the game will broadcast in just two NFL cities — you guessed it, Las Vegas and Jacksonville. Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. PST.
The Raiders should have quarterback Aidan O’Connell back behind center after he missed last week’s loss to the Falcons with a lower-body injury. It appeared offensive coordinator Scott Turner’s play calls were limited against Atlanta to accommodate reserve quarterback Desmond Ridder’s inexperience. O’Connell’s return should provide a major boost to that group.
The Raiders defense will face backup quarterback Mac Jones. He played well in Jacksonville’s loss to the Jets last week, so stopping him won’t be easy. With defensive end Maxx Crosby out for the season, the Las Vegas pass rush will be key in this matchup.
A win might hurt the Raiders’ position in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it’s anyone’s guess how the yearly selection meeting will play out. To avoid another rebuild in Las Vegas, Pierce has to show he’s still worthy of leading the Raiders franchise. We’ll see how his players and coaches respond on a short week with just a fraction of NFL fans watching on television.