Raiders find what they’re looking for
Bisaccia aces coaching tryout with big victory, playoff berth
LAS VEGAS — The firing in Miami was a head scratcher, considering Brian Flores won eight of his last nine games and seemed to have the Dolphins moving in the right direction. Not so much in Minnesota and Chicago, where both the coaches and GMs had long since worn out their welcome.
Black Monday, and Tuesday when the Giants fired coach Joe Judge, offered up the usual number of casualties across the NFL, where missing the playoffs means a pink slip might not be far behind.
The season is over for 18 teams and there’s no reason to waste time cleaning house. No reason to dally around looking for a new coach, either, though diversity interviews — and hopefully some diversity hires — will slow the process some.
Except in Las Vegas, that is. There, all Raiders owner Mark Davis needs to do is one little thing — ignore shiny objects like Jim Harbaugh and drop the word interim from Rich Bisaccia’s title.
Do it regardless of what happens in Cincinnati this weekend as the Raiders try to win their first playoff game in 19 years. Do it because it’s the right thing to do for the players who believe in him the most.
Heck, do it because Sunday night’s thriller against the Chargers to end the NFL’s regular season answered any questions about Bisaccia’s coaching acumen.
The football lifer who had never led a team at any level has earned the right to be a head coach at football’s highest level. After nearly two decades coaching special teams in the NFL, he’s an overnight success story no one saw coming.
When Bisaccia was first handed the reins of the team after Jon Gruden was sent packing, he had trouble figuring out how to use the headset on the sidelines.
Now he’s got the Raiders in the playoffs — and they look like a team that’s not ready to go away easily.
The blue collar coach who spent 38 years in college and pros waiting for his chance found it unexpectedly when Gruden was run out of town because of his disturbing emails. In just 12 games, the 61-year-old has crafted the team in his own image, going 7-5 despite ongoing turmoil that included wide receiver Henry Ruggs III killing a woman while racing his car through city streets.
Players say they love him, and his unassuming personality is one big reason why. His players play hard for him, the one intangible any coach needs in order to succeed.
Every game. Every down.
Power rankings
The Associated Press Pro32, as voted by a 12-member panel, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Monday, total points based on 32 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 32nd-place vote, and previous ranking: