Skip Bayless condones AFC HC's strategy for slowing Patrick Mahomes

Antonio Pierce.

It should come as no surprise that when Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Piece announced his strategy for how to deal with Patrick Mahomes, he found an avid fan in Skip Bayless.

Earlier in the week, Pierce made the news with his appearance on the podcast “The Rush with Maxx Crosby.” During the podcast, Pierce explained his strategy for playing against Mahomes. He wants to see the Raiders handle the Chiefs quarterback like the Detroit Pistons handled Michael Jordon three and a half decades ago — by being very physical.

Pierce expounds on the idea that he wants his defense to constantly manhandle Mahomes on every play — a hit here, a bump there, a shoulder — whatever can be done to disrupt Mahomes and try to get into his head. To be clear, he didn’t say the Raiders should do anything outside of the rules, and he did not go so far as to insinuate there was any kind of bounty on the Super Bowl MVP, but it seemed like what he was voicing shouldn’t necessarily be announced publicly.

Bayless was in complete agreement with Pierce and even quoted Al Davis in a tweet, saying that quarterbacks have to be hit early and hard. He lauded Pierce for his stance.

There are a few things wrong with all of this. First, while these types of strategies have probably always existed, in one form or another, since the very beginning of football history, they usually aren’t talked about in public. Secondly, coming off two years in which the NFL started more than 40 different quarterbacks throughout each season, is it a good idea to talk about being more physical with the most important players on the field? Will this cause officials to pay more attention to the Raiders and how physical they get with Mahomes?

Lastly, is it a good idea to provide Mahomes and Andy Reid with bulletin-board material? Let’s face it, the Chiefs were embarrassed by the Raiders on Christmas, but it was also the spark that turned Kansas City’s season around. They didn’t lose another game.

Is Pierce claiming that his strategy was the reason his team crushed the Chiefs? Is he prepared to back that up next season?

Bayless was just being Bayless and promoting a hot take. That isn’t a shocker. Fans by now should know that if he can fan flames, he will, but is he on the right side of this one? Probably not.

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