In-depth Analysis: Why Week 18 Still Matters for Future of the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders will yet again be missing out on the postseason this year after their narrow 23-20 defeat against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. With one game left in the season, it would be easy for a team to throw its hands up and essentially “give up” with nothing left to play for.

According to Raiders Interim Head Coach Antonio Pierce, though, Las Vegas does still have something to play for when it hosts the Denver Broncos on Sunday. “Unless you plan on retiring and not playing in the NFL or coaching in the NFL, this is still on your resume,” Pierce told media members on Monday.

“I think it’s no different at any level, right? You always look at the last four or five games or six games of a season — how a team plays, how they’re coached, how that coach coaches and vice versa. “So, I think for us, it’s very important, it’s still part of the process and evaluation to be honest, and I think our guys take pride in playing football. I think they love football. I think we got guys here that love football.

“I think we got coaches here that want to coach and see our guys win. It’s 2024, it’s a new year, it’s a great opportunity to go out with a bang at home. Get our fanbase excited for what’s going to come in the future.” Week 18 still matters for the future of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Pierce also still has personal things at stake ahead of his Week 18 match-up, as the first-time NFL head coach will be looking to keep his role for the 2024 season. While it can be debated whether or not this final game should impact that decision, Pierce’s attitude towards this contest should serve as a major green flag for Raiders Owner Mark Davis. After all, pride means everything to his historic and iconic organization, even if it has seen the postseason just twice in the last 21 seasons.

Further Reading:

Raiders See Stidham, On the Other Side This Time

The Las Vegas Raiders will wrap up their season against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Raiders opened up the season against the Broncos, defeating them narrowly, 17-16. However, the beginning of the season always looks far different from the end of the season.

This is the case for these AFC West opponents who were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 16. The Raiders come into the season finale with a different coach and starting quarterback than they entered with.

The Broncos have the same coach, but their quarterback is one with whom the Raiders are already familiar:

Jarrett Stidham. The Broncos decided to bench Russell Wilson last week in favor of Stidham, who performed amicably against the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing for 224 yards and the game’s only touchdown. This was Stidham’s only appearance in the 2023-24 season.

The Broncos are expected to move on from Wilson once free agency arrives, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. For Stidham, this current situation is all too familiar. At the end of the 2022-23 season, he took over for Derek Carr after Carr was benched for the final two games, and Carr’s time in Las Vegas was over soon after that. Once again, Stidham takes over as a cleanup duty starter in the season’s final two games, this time in Denver.

The Las Vegas Raiders will face Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who was with the Silver and Black in 2022.

In those two games, Stidham had a 0-2 record, completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 656 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He nearly led the Raiders to an upset victory over the San Francisco 49ers, connecting with wide receiver Davante Adams on a 45-yard pass that eventually led to the game-tying score from running back Josh Jacobs.

The Raiders fell in overtime, however, 37-34. The Raiders’ defense is well aware of Stidham’s skill set, so Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham will have an advantage in planning for him. The Raiders are also vastly improved defensively this season, and Stidham will see several new faces he did not see in practice every week in 2022.

The Raiders will not be playing postseason football this year, but sweeping a division rival and ending the season with a victory can build momentum in 2024. To do that, however, they must defeat a familiar face in Stidham.