5 Raiders playing for their jobs in Week 18

3. Antonio Pierce, Head Coach

Another individual who isn't necessarily a player, but is "playing for his job" in the final week of the season is interim head coach Antonio Pierce.

It seems to be very rare that a defensive-minded head coaching hire works out in today's NFL. The only one of major relevancy that you can attest to, right now, is Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. That hire has looked great, thus far, in only one year.

Pierce, though, could end up getting the full-time gig after what he's done since the firing of Josh McDaniels. So far, the Raiders are 4-4 under Pierce and, up until Week 17, they had a shot at the postseason. Even hinting at the postseason just before McDaniels was fired seemed like a laughable conversation.

But, the Raiders stayed in it and the locker room seems to have really rallied around Pierce. At this point, it seems very plausbile that PIerce will wind up taking over as the full-time head coach. A statement win over a division rival in Week 18 could be the final piece of evidence needed in his case, but right now, it does seem very likely that Pierce has earned the job.