HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — As a coach with a defensive background, Antonio Pierce isn't all that comfortable throwing 43 passes in a game. But that's what his Raiders did in Sunday's 34-19 loss at Miami , which Pierce attributed Monday to needing to catch up while playing from behind.
He said it's important that Las Vegas still try to establish a run game, which it tried to do in the first half in rushing 12 times for 49 yards. But the Raiders haven't had a ground attack to speak of this season, and that's the problem. Pierce might not want to throw the ball 43 times, but that's reality for the Raiders.
Putting the ball in the air is their best — and maybe only — hope. “Not to talk about other teams, but other teams with really elite quarterbacks and throwing the ball 40 times doesn’t equal a win,” Pierce said. “So you want to find that balance, and for us, that’s what we’re still searching for.
” The Raiders (2-8), who have lost six straight, are searching for a lot of things on offense. They entered Monday ranked 30th in yards per game (285.0), last in rushing (75.
2) and 25th in scoring (18.7 points). Gardner Minshew remains the starting quarterback, and he didn't play poorly against the Dolphins.
He completed 30 of his 43 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. With the Dolphins taking away the deep threat, Minshew worked the underneath routes, particularly to tight end Brock Bowers, who caught 13 passes for 126 yards and a TD. Throwing.
