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Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterSep 8, 2024, 09:36 PM ET
- Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role – writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA’s Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis’ Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce defended his decision Sunday 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 the Raiders facing what Pierce called “a long 1” yard to convert from the Chargers’ 43-yard line and trailing 16-10 with 7:15 to play, Pierce opted not to go for it. The Raiders became the first team since 2016 to punt on fourth-and-1 when in opposing territory and trailing by one score in the fourth quarter.
According to ESPN Analytics, Pierce’s decision dropped the Raiders’ win probability from 24.8% if they went for it to 19.1% with the punt.
And while the Raiders pinned the Chargers on their 8-yard line on the punt, Los Angeles put together a 92-yard touchdown drive, keyed by a 61-yard burst up the left sideline by running back J.K. Dobbins.
“I mean, we got what we wanted,” Pierce said of Raiders punter AJ Cole putting the Chargers deep in their own territory, with Las Vegas still holding three timeouts.
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Pierce said he trusted the defense, which had kept the Chargers in check up to that point, to maintain.
“But they broke off the lone run, and that was the end of it,” he said.
Technically, three snaps later, Justin Herbert hit Ladd McConkey on a 10-yard touchdown pass, before the Chargers attempted a 2-point conversion that was stopped by the Raiders before a fight broke out that resulted in the ejections of Las Vegas cornerback Jack Jones and Los Angeles receiver Joshua Palmer.
Said Pierce: “A lot of things factor into not going for it on fourth-and-1.”
Such as: Raiders running back Zamir White was hit for a 1-yard loss when they did go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 41-yard line in the first quarter — a series after he was stopped for no gain on third-and-1 on their own 30-yard line. White also lost a fumble after an 8-yard pickup in the third quarter.
Plus, the Raiders got into the red zone only once the entire game.
The Raiders did contemplate going for it in the fourth quarter.
“That’s Coach’s decision,” said quarterback Gardner Minshew, who completed 25 of 33 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown but also lost a fumble and threw an interception in his Raiders debut.
“But I think anybody that’s a ballplayer wants the ball in their hands with the opportunity to help the team.”
Raiders receiver Davante Adams was asked whether he would have preferred going for it.
“I mean, my job is to run routes and do what’s called,” said Adams, who caught five passes for 59 yards. “I don’t really get into that.”
