Sources - Antonio Pierce leading candidate for Raiders job - ESPN

Interim coach Antonio Pierce has emerged as the leading candidate to become the full-time head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, with the support of key players there, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

There will be other options for Raiders' owner Mark Davis to consider, but as one source said, «I would be blown away if Antonio weren't the pick.»

Following the Raiders' season-ending 27-14 victory over the Denver Broncos, owner Davis told ESPN he is «really excited» about the job Pierce did in leading the team to a 5-4 finish after he took over as interim head coach.

When Davis first elevated Pierce from linebackers coach to interim coach following the Halloween night firing of Josh McDaniels, he told ESPN he did not want Pierce to necessarily «coach,» so much as «lead» and «delegate.»

Raiders players also bought into Pierce's leadership style with All-Pro WR Davante Adams saying he would «run through a wall for that man.»

Three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who had a career-high 14.5 sacks this season, has also voiced support for Pierce.

«It's legendary,» he said after the season finale. «When you have the right culture, a guy like A.P. that embraces the history of the Raiders, it's special.… A ton of legends [visit] consistently because the amount of respect they have for him. So, it makes you, as a player, want to go out there and show who you are. You know what I mean? You want to be at that level one day.»

At 8-9, the Raiders finished in second place in the AFC West, two games better than last season, after splitting with the division-champion Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers and sweeping the Broncos.

Pierce, meanwhile, went 3-1 in the division, and the Raiders were in every game they played,