NFL pundits think Raiders may regret Antonio Pierce’s ‘Mahomes Rules’ comment

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce made headlines last week when he said Las Vegas’ 20-14 win over the Chiefs on Christmas Day was a blueprint for beating Kansas City going forward.

Pierce said the Raiders now have the “Patrick Mahomes Rules” when playing the Chiefs.

“We’ve got the Jordan Rules and we’ve got what I’m calling now as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes Rules,” Pierce said. “So you remember when (Michael) Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s before he became Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whip his (butt).

“Any time he came to the hole: elbows, feeling him, love taps, we touched him. We’re in his head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. I’m touching you. So I showed my guys Jordan getting his (tail) whooped, consistently.”

That promise of roughing up Mahomes may end up costing the Raiders, says ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.

“The league maybe can’t do anything about these comments but it certainly can tell the officials when they’ve got the Raiders versus the Chiefs: be keeping a close eye on that,’” Greenberg said last week. “You could see a festival of flags if they go after him. I don’t know. Look, it’s fun, but there’s something about it that feels maybe not as much fun.”

NFL Network host Rich Eisen said on his talk show that Pierce’s comments are certain to be replayed at least twice during the 2024 season. It’ll be when the Chiefs play the Raiders in Las Vegas and at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mahomes is known for finding motivation before facing an opponent, and he’ll certainly have that when the Chiefs play the Raiders.

“If you don’t think the Chiefs are seeing this and saying (we) cannot wait ‘til our schedule is out and we know when we’re playing the Raiders,” Eisen said. “That thing will be on and cracking, and Antonio Pierce knows he’s just upped the ante, too, and he’s putting it out there and that’s the new way of coaching.”

EIsen added: “Speak it into existence, but you know when you try to speak it into existence, the person against whom you’re trying to speak it into existence hears it, too. Oh, the Chiefs are not going to like that. And you know Mahomes is going to take that, internalize it and try and use it. And in a way, he’s kind of helped the Chiefs get through two regular season games.’