Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce addressed his decision to punt on fourth-and-1 late in his team’s 22-10 season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. With 7:15 remaining in the game and the Raiders trailing 16-10, Pierce faced a challenging situation from the Chargers’ 43-yard line. He described the distance needed for a first down as “a long 1” and chose not to attempt the conversion.
This decision marked a rare occurrence, as the Raiders became the first team since 2016 to punt on fourth-and-1 in opposing territory while trailing by a single score in the fourth quarter. ESPN Analytics indicated that the decision reduced the Raiders’ win probability from 24.8% if they had attempted to convert to 19.1% with the punt.
Although the punt successfully pinned the Chargers at their own 8-yard line, they responded with a significant 92-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 61-yard run from running back J.K. Dobbins. Pierce expressed confidence in his defense, which had effectively contained the Chargers for most of the game, believing they could hold them back.
However, the defense faltered, allowing quarterback Justin Herbert to connect with Ladd McConkey for a 10-yard touchdown pass just three snaps later. The Chargers also attempted a 2-point conversion that was stopped by the Raiders, leading to a brawl that resulted in the ejections of Raiders cornerback Jack Jones and Chargers receiver Joshua Palmer.
Pierce emphasized that various factors influenced the decision not to go for it on fourth-and-1, including previous struggles in short-yardage situations. Running back Zamir White had been stopped for a loss and no gain on similar attempts earlier in the game. Additionally, the Raiders only made it into the red zone once throughout the match.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew, who had a strong performance with 257 passing yards, commented on the situation, noting that players typically want the opportunity to make plays. Receiver Davante Adams, when asked about the decision, stated that his primary focus is on executing his role rather than second-guessing coaching calls.