Raiders QB Aidan O'Connel on Colts Week

The Las Vegas Raiders (7-8) will spend New Year's Eve in Indianapolis vs. the Colts (8-7) and are looking to bring in 2024 celebrating a New Year on their charter jet home with NFL Playoff hopes still alive.

Rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell stepped to the podium to discuss the team's state and turn the page to the Colts after another historic win at Kansas City.

You can watch the entire Pierce press conference above and read the transcript below.

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell

Q: How do you prepare for a challenge like the Colts, a team that is over-performing and in the fight like you guys are for a playoff spot?

O'Connell: “Yeah, I think when you get to this point of the season, everybody is fighting and been playing football for a long time, and so I think it's going to be a really good challenge for us. Another back-to-back road game, so we’re going to have to deal with the noise and all that stuff. Obviously, coming off a short week, it’s going to take a good week of practice, with walk-throughs and getting good mental reps throughout the week.”

Q: Being able to beat the Chiefs, does that elevate your confidence knowing and show that you guys can pretty much beat anybody you're facing?

O'Connell: “ I think we try to worry about ourselves. And obviously it was a great win for us last week, but I think if you just go based off results week to week, the NFL is so up and down. So, I think we try to stay pretty even keel as much as possible and are not really based on the results week to week, but rather how we're preparing, how we're performing and all those things.”

Q: After watching the film from your performance on Monday, what are your takeaways from it? O'Connell:

“Yeah, obviously I didn't have my best game and we didn't do much offensively in the last game. Like I said, after the game, I think I missed some opportunities that were there. Again, it's week to week, you've got to try to improve as much as possible, and try to execute on Sunday or whenever the game comes around.”

Q: How much emphasis have you guys been placing on taking care of the football? And how important is that?

O'Connell: “Yeah, I think it's huge. I think just being able to give our defense a chance for the most part is huge for us. Our defense is playing super well. And obviously we want to score as many points as possible, we want to play how we played against the Chargers. But it's a team sport, so there are ups and downs on both sides of the ball and our defense has done an awesome job keeping us in a lot of games. And so, yeah, like you said, to not turn the ball over I think is a huge confidence for our offense going forward and our whole team.”

Q: Interim Coach Antonio Pierce kind of compared your poker face and demeanor to when he played with Eli Manning. How were you able to kind of stay mentally tough without completing a pass for a couple of quarters in the last game?

O'Connell: “Like I said, I think it's because it's a team game. I'm really happy I don't play an individual sport. I wouldn't do very well. And so, to have guys to rely on I think is a beautiful part of the sport we play. Obviously, we want to win every game by a lot of points, but there have been times this year where all three phases have had to step up. And so, yeah, I think just the confidence that the guys around me give me, I think is huge. They understand how hard it is and what it takes to move the ball down the field as an entire offense. And so, as we're maybe stalling in the game like that, I think the guys stay confident, we understand that it's not just about the last possession, you have to look at the big picture and try to execute as much as possible. So, I think there are a lot of factors that go into it. I think for the most part though, I have great coaches around me, great players around me who really help me try to be the best player I can be.”

Q: With the defense playing the way that they're playing, does that take some of the load off of your shoulders in terms of not necessarily having to do too much?

O'Connell: “Again, we try to execute as best possible. We don't go into a game thinking our defense is going to bail us out here or there, and obviously they have. They've done an awesome job of that and we're confident they're going to do that because they've showed it. But we want to perform as best we can individually and collectively as different units on the offense. And then as a whole group, I think we want to challenge ourselves to score as many points as possible, but also be as efficient as possible, make good decisions with everything we do. And so, like I keep saying, it's a team sport. You got to rely on each other sometimes and that's what we've been doing.”

Q: You've had a unique first season in the NFL. What is the biggest thing you've learned so far?

O'Connell: “Oh, that's a good question. I think definitely it's how long the season is. I'll give you two, how long the season is, is one thing. There's been a lot of football played so far and we've still got more to play. And I think the other thing is how up-and-down everything is. Week-to-week there's so much that goes into each game that requires you to go out there and perform well. And so, I think you have to work as hard as possible each day, each week to give yourself a chance when the game comes around.”

Q: Have you thought at all about kind of the juxtaposition of you with this franchise? This franchise has been known as the Bad Boys of the NFL and you're this quiet, humble guy leading the charge at quarterback. Do you think about that at all?

O'Connell: “I think I have a little bit to my personality that maybe sometimes people don't know about, that can come out in different times. But I'm just trying to have as much fun as possible. I get to play quarterback in the NFL and I'm in a really cool spot and in a really great organization. I haven't thought too much about that, but I'm really just trying to have as much fun as possible. And, yeah, it's been fun.”

Q: Are there any characteristics that you feel you have, or you need to possess, to make the rest of the team play hard for you, especially when you're not having your best game?

O'Connell: “Yeah, I think a lot comes from preparation. I try to be somebody who the guys look to as someone who works really hard,. I try to do extra as much as possible. Not so they can see me, but just because I know I need to. Whenever the game comes around and it’s third-and-eight, or whatever it is, I want to be confident that I put in all the work needed to be ready for that moment. And it takes a lot of work in the NFL, especially playing quarterback, and that's something I've had to learn. Again, I've been lucky enough to have trust and confidence from a lot of guys both verbally and in how they act toward me. And so, it puts me in a position where I can have great confidence when I go on the field.”

The Silver and Black continue the season on New Year's Eve versus the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Don't miss it on Sunday, December 31, at 1 p.m. EST/10 a.m. PST.

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