In the aftermath of a thrilling 20-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns, the Las Vegas Raiders breathed a collective sigh of relief. The win marked a much-needed turnaround for the team, which had faced intense scrutiny following a lackluster performance against the Carolina Panthers.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce acknowledged the tumultuous week, apologizing for his role in sparking controversy with comments about certain players making “business decisions” on the field. “There was a lot of hoopla, and stuff,” Pierce said. “Probably started with me, with my comments, and I apologize for that.”
One player who felt the brunt of Pierce’s criticism was starting cornerback Jack Jones, who was benched for the first quarter against the Browns. Jones took the decision in stride, saying, “S—, that’s ball… If I’m not up, I’m not up. If I’m up, I’ve got to play.”
The team faced additional challenges, with several key players sidelined due to injury. Star receiver Davante Adams sat out with a hamstring injury, while edge rusher Maxx Crosby missed his first game in six years with a high ankle sprain. Despite their absence, the Raiders rallied together, with defensive end Charles Snowden stepping up to seal the game with a crucial sack.
“We had Maxx down, so somebody had to step up,” said defensive tackle Adam Butler. Snowden echoed the sentiment, saying, “Maxx is a great player… not having him out there, his playmaking and just his energy, we all kind of just assumed our role and knew one person wasn’t going to be Maxx Crosby.”
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