The Raiders picked up their first win under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, downing the Giants on Sunday, 30–6.
After the Week 9 victory, there were positive vibes in the locker room and the team celebrated its victory with some cigars. Players could be seen puffing on cigars and happily walking around the locker room, seemingly a major change in the right direction following the departure of Josh McDaniels.
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby was filming from inside the locker room as the team blasted music and soaked in the win. The cigars were provided by Crosby, according to Logan Reever of 8News Now.
Team owner Mark Davis even made an appearance in the locker room, seemingly quite pleased with the Raiders’ performance after the head-coaching change.
The #Raiders are smoking victory cigars#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/miABoEEkcN
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) November 6, 2023
You know the vibes. pic.twitter.com/UijjL1JS5i
— Raider Posts (@RaiderPosts) November 6, 2023
Pierce’s impact was immediate and obvious. In his first game as the interim head coach, Las Vegas scored 30 points for the first time all season, having previously been held to a high of 21. Additionally, the Raiders rushed for more than 100 yards and did not commit a single turnover, feats they had not accomplished in their first eight games of the season under McDaniels.
The McDaniels era is officially in the rear-view mirror, and the vibe in the locker room already appears to be shifting in a more positive direction. The Raiders (4–5) look to keep the good times rolling in Week 10 when they take on the Jets in prime time on Sunday night with a chance to get back to .500 on the season.
