Some believe that football is the definitive team sport. When it comes to the defense of the Las Vegas Raiders, that is the sum of all of their components; this statement could not be more accurate. There are a lot of teams in the National Football League that have good defenses, but there aren’t that many teams who have had a defense that has played as well together as Las Vegas has this season. “I think [Defensive Coordinator] Patrick [Graham], the staff, even when I was there at the linebacker position as a coach, we just kept talking about the process and trusting and believing it and staying within the scheme, letting the plays come to you,” Antonio Pierce, the interim coach, commented.

In terms of our defense, we are aware of where all of the attention is focused. Maxx Crosby, who wears the number 98, is located on our left side, and there are opportunities for the rest of our defenders to make plays in that area. In addition, if we perform our duties and do so on every snap, it will provide you with the opportunity to do so. It is Pierce who draws attention to the leadership and effect that Graham has on the defense.

“And you saw last week with Malcolm Koonce, you saw it with [Robert] Spillane, you saw it with Jack Jones, you saw it with Tyree [Wilson],” according to Pierce. Now, what you are witnessing is everyone contributing to a defense that Patrick is sitting upstairs, and you don’t really have to do too much to defend yourself. There is a lot of pace and physicality in the way that the players are playing, and less is more.