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Antonio Pierce benched struggling Raiders QB Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell vs. Broncos
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Antonio Pierce benched struggling Raiders QB Gardner Minshew for Aidan O’Connell vs. Broncos

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 06: Gardner Minshew #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before kickoff against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game at Empower Field at Mile High on October 6, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 06: Gardner Minshew #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before kickoff against the Denver Broncos during an NFL football game at Empower Field at Mile High on October 6, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Antonio Pierce had seen enough.

The Las Vegas Raiders coach benched starting quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of backup Aidan O’Connell on Sunday. Pierce made the move late in the third quarter when the Broncos had a 20-10 lead.

Minshew had thrown his second interception of the game on the previous drive in Las Vegas. He went to the bench after completing 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards with a touchdown and the two interceptions.

The quarterback change is the latest drama in a Raiders season full of them. Pierce made the move two weeks after criticizing Raiders players for making “business decisions” in a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Raiders then entered Sunday’s game amid reports that a trade for three-time All-Pro receiver Davante Adams was inevitable.

The Raiders bounced back from the Week 3 loss to the Panthers with a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 to improve to 2–2. But they struggled early on Sunday against a Broncos led by rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Minshew’s first interception of the day resulted in a likely two-score swing in the Broncos’ favor. With the Raiders facing first and goal while leading 10-3, Minshew targeted rookie tight end Brock Bowers in the end zone with a play-action pass. Instead, he found Broncos safety Patrick Surtain II, who picked off the pass and returned it for a Broncos touchdown.

Instead of holding a two-score lead, the Raiders found themselves in a 10-10 tie early in the second quarter.

The Raiders played from behind in the second half. With Denver holding a 20-10 lead late in the third quarter, Minshew looked deep down the field for wide receiver Tre Tucker. Cornerback Riley Moss had tight coverage down the sideline and intercepted the jump ball at the Denver 37-yard line.

That was Minshew’s last pass of the day.

O’Connell took over for the next Las Vegas possession. He didn’t fare much better than Minshew. The Raiders lost six yards and punted on O’Connell’s first possession. The Broncos responded with a touchdown drive to extend their lead to 27-10.

On his second possession, O’Connell threw an interception on the first play of the drive. O’Connell targeted Bowers in traffic with a pass over the middle. The ball bounced through Bowers’ hands and into those of Surtain, who recorded his second interception of the day.

The Broncos converted the turnover into another touchdown drive, capped off by a nine-yard scoring pass from Nix to Josh Reynolds for a 34–10 lead. This was a game the Raiders led 10-0 in the first quarter.