Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce is drawing inspiration from basketball history as he implements a strategic game plan, dubbed the “Mahomes Rules,” to counter Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Drawing parallels to the famous “Jordan Rules” employed by the Detroit Pistons against Michael Jordan in the 1980s, Pierce aims to develop a focused approach to thwart Mahomes and the Chiefs.
In a recent appearance on Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby’s podcast, Pierce said, “We’ve got the Jordan rules, and we’ve got what I’m calling now, from now on as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules.”
He added, “You remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s before he became Michael Jordan, Air Jordan, the Pistons, used to whip his ass.”
Antonio Pierce: Raiders have the Mahomes rules like the Pistons had the Jordan rules. https://t.co/2OfwdKJ7Rc
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 19, 2024
Pierce emphasized the need for a physical and aggressive mindset, citing tactics such as elbows, love taps, and mental games to disrupt Mahomes’ rhythm. He uses visual aids like clips from boxing and UFC fights to instill a fighter’s mentality in his defense, illustrating the level of aggression he expects against Mahomes.
“We’ve got to knock off the head of the snake. Fifteen. Hate the color red. There’s a hatred for the Chiefs,” declared Pierce.
Reflecting on the Raiders’ 20-14 victory over the Chiefs on Christmas Day, Pierce sees it as a defining moment for his team and a benchmark for the kind of performance he demands from his defense when facing Mahomes in the future.
