Stanford Routt on What Raiders Need To Do To Hang with Tough AFC West
The Las Vegas Raiders have a new coach in Antonio Pierce, and there is a new era waiting in the wings for the 2024 season. While everyone believes the team has gotten better, the entirety of the AFC West has also gotten better.
Stanford Routt of Bleav in Raiders discussed the stiff competition Las Vegas is up against and what they will need to do in the offseason to ensure they can hang with all the teams in their division.
"Obviously, Antonio Pierce has the interim tag taken off of his back. He's now the head coach going forward and you see that this team has the pieces in place. They still got to go and add a few more. Got to go and add another playmaker on the edge rusher, add another playmaker for the linebackers, and then one more in the back end, I would surmise."
via Stanford Routt, Bleav in Raiders
The entire NFL world was happy that Pierce became the head coach of the Raiders, but that won't mean much if he can't get big wins with the organization. He will be dealing with the back-to-back Super Bowl champ Chiefs, a new Jim Harbaugh-led Chargers team, and Sean Payton and the Broncos.
"Now you got Jim Harbaugh coming in the AFC West along with Justin Herbert. You got Sean Payton back for another year. Who knows who is going to have a quarterback for the Denver Broncos? And then we all know the Kansas City Chiefs just won the Super Bowl again."
via Stanford Routt, Bleav in Raiders
The AFC West could become one of the toughest divisions in 2024, and the Raiders will need to make sure they can hang. The good news is Pierce's coaching style matches well with how tough the team is, so the expectation is Las Vegas will return to the playoffs. The hope is that Pierce getting a full season will lead to a much different result.
