Twitter/X reacts to Las Vegas dropping the season opener 22-10 to Los Angeles
While the Las Vegas Raiders began a new season on Sunday, the Raiders Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers felt a lot like last season.
Las Vegas’ defense had a strong performance, keeping the Chargers out of the endzone and to just nine points before the fourth quarter. Granted, Los Angeles did breakthrough toward the end of the game as JK Dobbins’ ripped off a couple of long runs, and a 12-yard touchdown to begin the final frame and give the Chargers a two-possession lead, the Raiders’ offense was the bigger problem.
The Silver and Black’s offensive line gave up four sacks and six quarterback hits while the team averaged just 3.2 yards on the ground. Also, the unit lost in the trenches on several short-yardage attempts that killed drives.
Meanwhile, quarterback Gardner Minshew wasn’t the biggest problem, but he didn’t help matters with a fumble on a backward pass and an interception to put the final nail in the Raiders’ coffin. Additionally, head coach Antonio Pierce made a few questionable fourth-down decisions, highlighted by a conservative move to punt on fourth and one in the opponent’s territory down six in the fourth quarter.
All of that makes for some interesting reactions on X/Twitter as seen below.
As one would expect, the analytics community doesn’t agree with Pierce’s decision.
—> LV (10) @ LAC (16) <—
LV has 4th & 1 at the LAC 43, Q4 07:15Recommendation (VERY STRONG): Go for it (+8.5 WP)
Actual play: A.Cole punts 35 yards to LAC 8, Center-J.Bobenmoyer, fair catch by D.Davis. pic.twitter.com/ZkRIl6cpvG— 4th down decision bot (@ben_bot_baldwin) September 8, 2024
ESPN Analytics strongly disagreed with Antonio Pierce decision to punt on 4th-and-1 in Chargers territory
WP Go: 24.8% ( +5.7% )
WP Punt: 19.1% The #Raiders are the 1st team to punt in opposing territory when trailing by 1 score in the 4th quarter on 4th-and-1 since 2016 (Bills)— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) September 8, 2024
The head coach explained himself, sort of…
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce said they got what they wanted after punting on 4th-and-1 in the fourth quarter. They just couldn’t get a stop.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) September 8, 2024
Antonio Pierce on decision to punt on 4th & 1 down 6 in Chargers territory in 4th quarter#Raiders pic.twitter.com/tirJfzahgq
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) September 8, 2024
Granted, Pierce’s hesitation was somewhat understandable due to the offensive line’s performance, but it still feels like you have to roll the dice there.
A lot of folks will be going after Minshew (He did miss some open WRs) BUT the #Raiders offensive line was pretty bad today…pass blocking was poor and they couldn’t get the run game going with any consistency
AP clearly didn’t have any confidence in his guys up front today
— Jesse Merrick (@JesseNews3LV) September 8, 2024
#Raiders punt on 4th and 1 from Chargers 43 down 6 in 4th quarter. It’s the first 4th and 1 punt in plus territory when down a score in 4th quarter since Rex Ryan’s Bills did it vs Ravens in 2016 opener per @sportradar
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 8, 2024
As painful as it is to agree with a Chargers’ fan account, Khalil Mack had an impressive game with 1.5 sacks, a TFL, and a batted pass that led to a pick.
Old man Khalil Mack against the Raiders O-Line
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) September 8, 2024
An example of Minshew just not making enough plays when the team needed it.
Minshew has to hit Tucker on this speed out on 4th-and-7 against zero blitz
No reason to hang on to the ball pic.twitter.com/FOIGG4gvKx
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 8, 2024
Also, this was just embarrassing…
Lmao Minshew pic.twitter.com/d7IRVKwCFP
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) September 8, 2024
Minshew talks to the press.
“Once it clicks, it’s gonna click.”
Gardner Minshew isn’t losing any faith in the #Raiders offense after today’s performance pic.twitter.com/FALO8AoL55
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) September 8, 2024
Raiders and Chargers also go into it after the Chargers’ last touchdown.
WOW, WE HAVE A MAJOR FIGHT
A BIG FIGHT BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE #RAIDERS & #CHARGERS PLAYERS IN THE REDZONE.
YOU DO NOT SEE THIS OFTEN…
pic.twitter.com/exQj6UBQGP— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 8, 2024
Alexander Mattison did make a nice play for the Raiders’ lone touchdown.
Helluva highlight for the first TD of the season #LVvsLAC | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/wkObbmIzdK
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 8, 2024
Maxx Crosby’s sack, he finished with three quarterback hits.
Maxx Crosby. Beast.
: #LVvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/ahARo9Vu8K— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
Tony Romo’s thoughts on Pierce and the Raiders moving forward.
“I wouldn’t worry about the Raiders…Antonio Pierce is for real.”
– Tony Romo pic.twitter.com/4jlTRUgpDw
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) September 8, 2024
