Sports

Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce Criticized For Most Cowardly Punt In Years

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Antonio Pierce

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Oftentimes, the decisions to go for it on 4th down or to kick/punt can be pretty complicated, with good arguments to be made on each side of the argument. Luckily for Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce, he was faced with a decision that was pretty obvious in Sunday’s season-opening, 22-10 loss to The Los Angeles Chargers.

But, despite being given one of the easier 4th down decisions a coach will have to make this year, Pierce took the cowardly way out. Now, he’s receiving a ton of criticism for a choice that may have cost the Raiders the game.

Pierce, who was named interim last year after they fired Josh McDaniels midseason and was later given the job full-time, faced a 4th and 1 on the Charger 43-yard line trailing 16-10 with 7:15 left. Clearly, you should go for that every time. You’re on their side of the field, you don’t know how many times you’re going to get the ball again, and it’s 4th and 1! You should be going for 4th and 1 from any point on the field there, basically.

Instead, Antonio Pierce punted, and the Surrender Punt Index had it as cowardly as any punt in years.

Naturally, the Chargers got the ball, scored a touchdown to put the game away, and the Raiders’ best chance to win had gone by the wayside.

And, Antonio Pierce got hammered for his decision, as he should have.

Hopefully Antonio Pierce can learn from this mistake, because those are choices that lose you football games.