After the game, there was plenty of video/audio to take in from the locker room and down at field level. Here at BTSC we try to gather as much information as possible for those fans who might not be on social media and see this on a weekly basis.
Therefore, in the post-game sound article you will hear from head coach Mike Tomlin, and a myriad of other players as the Steelers official Twitter account goes around the room to hear from all who participated on Sunday.
Enjoy the content and be sure to stay with BTSC for all things black-and-gold as they prepare for the next game of the regular season. The next game on the docket is the Week 3 game at home vs. the Cincinnati Bengals…but first, the post-game sound:
Mike Tomlin Post Game Press Conference
Coach Tomlin speaks to the media about the game against the Raiders, provides an update on player injuries and more. pic.twitter.com/jLUGd0Qhes
Week 2 in the NFL already has seen two prime-time thrillers. Can Lions-Packers live up to that standard Monday night?
The fourth time was the charm for Lamar Jackson, who finally was on the winning end of a showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs after going winless in his previous three meetings against KC.
Tom Brady, meanwhile, continues to be remarkable. The 44-year-old quarterback already has nine touchdown passes and is on pace to shatter the single-season record.
Unlike in Week 1 with Elijah Williams, there’s no slam-dunk player to target above everyone else on this week’s fantasy waiver wire.
However, the surprise performer of the week was definitely Falcons RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson. The one-time kick return specialist lined up all over the field and made big plays when he touched the ball. Patterson scored a rushing touchdown and caught five passes for 58 yards and another score. However, starting running back Mike Davis played almost twice as many snaps as Patterson did, ran for more yards and caught two more passes.
Perhaps an emerging wide receiver might be a better investment. Third-year wideout K.J. Osborn of the Vikings tallied five receptions for 91 yards and a 64-yard TD. And Cardinals rookie Rondale Moore caught seven passes for 117 yards – the bulk of those coming on a 77-yard touchdown bomb. Both could be productive third receivers on potent passing offenses.
Speaking of the Cardinals’ passing game, tight end Maxx Williams had seven catches and 94 yards, tied for the most catches and second in yards among tight ends in Week 2.
Rams running back Darrell Henderson had to leave Sunday’s game early with a rib injury, opening the door for Sony Michel to carry the ball 10 times for 46 yards. If Henderson is limited going forward, Michel becomes a decent flex option.
Coming this week
Monday: Week 2 wraps up when the Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Packers will attempt to win their home opener for a ninth consecutive season.
Tuesday:USA TODAY Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 2.
Thursday: Week 3 kicks off with the Houston Texans hosting the Carolina Panthers (8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 3 game.
Join BTSC for immediate reaction after the Steelers 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders
The Steelers injury report did them no favors before the game by losing Joe Haden and Devin Bush, but it got worse early as Tyson Alualu and T.J. Watt went off in the first half with injuries. The Steelers defense couldn’t stop Derek Carr and were defeated 26-17. Jeff Hartman, Dave Schofield and Bryan Anthony Davis break down the game like no one else does on the latest podcast, The Steelers Post-Game Show.
If you haven’t heard, we have a YouTube channel, and the main reason for this is to increase the sound quality on our shows. But if you’re a visual learner you can watch the show below. Be sure to subscribe to our channel.
If you missed the live show, be sure to check out all episodes on the following platforms:
BALTIMORE – Maybe it’s time to stop asking the questions.
Maybe, after Sunday night’s 36-35 comeback victory over nemesis Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s time to accept the fact that Lamar Jackson is never going to play quarterback in accordance with some Quarterbacking 101 guide. He’s not even going to play the position like Mahomes, regarded by many as the gold standard for this generation of quarterbacks. But the Baltimore Ravens quarterback is, however, fully capable putting his team on his back and carrying it to victories while utilizing a special array of talents that few can duplicate and that defenses will continually struggle to stop.
That’s what elite quarterbacks do, right?
And maybe – just maybe – we can allow that to be enough.
Sunday night at M&T Bank Stadium, it certainly was enough for the Ravens, who earned their first victory of the season and achieved that long-elusive win over Mahomes and the Chiefs.
“We’ve said it before, but don’t think I’ve ever been happier when we’ve said it,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said, “It’s not perfect. It’s not pretty, sometimes, usually, but it is us.”
The 24-year-old Jackson on Sunday rebounded from two first-quarter interceptions to pass for 239 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns to propel the Ravens past Mahomes and the Chiefs, to whom they had lost each of their three meetings since Jackson and Mahomes became starters and rivals.
And although the Ravens star cautioned, “We still ain’t won the Super Bowl,” he did concede, “I’m glad we finally got that monkey off our backs.”
In the game’s opening stretches, those King Kong-sized expectations placed on Jackson’s shoulders ever since his 2019 MVP campaign, and only exacerbated by Mahomes’ heroics for the Chiefs, certainly seemed to be in full effect.
Jackson had tried his best in the days leading up to his meeting with Mahomes to downplay the magnitude of their meeting.
“It’s not about me and Mahomes,” he said on Wednesday. “Not to me. Probably to everyone else. But it’s the Ravens versus the Kansas City Chiefs.”
But whether he likes it or not, football fans will always view any meeting between these teams as Mahomes vs. Jackson. And despite his attempts to explain his individuality, Jackson will always find himself measured by the standard Mahomes has set for this generation of quarterbacks.
Jackson conceded after Sunday’s win that he did badly want to rectify that 0-3 mark against Mahomes. Teammates said they also understood their quarterback’s motivation.
Perhaps that pressure factored into Jackson’s accuracy issues as he badly overthrew a wide-open Marquise Brown on his first pass attempt of the night. On the very next play, he missed Sammy Watkins and threw the ball right to Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, who returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown. That miscue intensified the pressure, causing Jackson to force a red zone pass into triple coverage, where Mathieu again swooped in and picked it off.
“I threw two first-quarter interceptions, one for a pick-six, and that pissed me off,” Jackson said. “And then another one in the red zone, and that pissed me off. (I was) trying to force something and make it happen too fast instead of taking our time and driving the ball down the field like we do. I had to stay focused. … I knew my team was looking at me. If I’m messing up, they’re gonna say, ‘Damn, what are you doing?’ But my guys had my back.”
Over the course of the next three quarters, Jackson delivered plays that Baltimore needed to reel the Chiefs in and eventually overtake them.
He ran with determination and elusiveness. He delivered passes from a variety of arm angles, at times willing the ball into tight windows, other times finding wide-open targets because the Chiefs defenders keyed so heavily on Jackson as a running threat.
Jackson and Mahomes traded scores all night, and every time Kansas City appeared poised to pull away, back came the Ravens, drawing within striking distance. After a 46-yard Mahomes-to-Travis Kelce touchdown midway through the third quarter, Baltimore’s defense held the Chiefs scoreless and forced Mahomes into a costly interception.
Meanwhile, Jackson directed two fourth-quarter scoring drives, capping one with a 2-yard touchdown run and the second with a 1-yard scamper that ended with him doing a somersault into the end zone as his team took a 36-35 lead with 3:14 left.
But one point seemed too narrow a margin, and three-plus minutes far too much time left for Mahomes to operate. Just one week earlier, he and Tyreek Hill hooked up for a 75-yard scoring strike on a one-play, 14-second drive.
But Jackson, in a display of leadership, gathered his defensive teammates on the sideline and told them he needed a turnover. Sure enough, Baltimore’s defenders responded as rookie linebacker Odafe Oweh forced Kansas City running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire to fumble just as his team had entered field goal range.
A minute and 26 seconds remained, and Harbaugh put the ball in Jackson’s hands again and again. The Ravens called for a pass, and Jackson threw a dart to Watkins. Then came three straight quarterback runs. And facing fourth-and-1 with 1:05 left, the coach called to his quarterback, “You wanna go for it?”
“Hell yeah, we’re going for it,” Jackson yelled back. He promptly lined up, took the snap and darted 2 yards up the middle for the game-clinching first down.
Jackson had done it.
He had finally shown that his style of quarterback play is indeed capable of not only keeping pace with the wizardly passing ways of Mahomes and the prolific Chiefs offense, but he also demonstrated that he and the Ravens could overtake that Kansas City juggernaut.
Ever since he became the Ravens’ full-time starter, Jackson faced questions about his ability to play from behind and deliver more than just scrambling heroics. His mere two career 300-yard passing games and two fourth-quarter comeback victories prior to Sunday night combined to cast doubt on Jackson’s credentials as an elite passer.
But the Ravens have continued to express belief in the quarterback, this offseason surrounding him with more weapons and continuing to tailor their game plans to his strengths. Sunday against the Chiefs, Jackson finally dispelled the doubts that have hung over him for the better part of three seasons.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s decision to go for it on fourth down rather than count on his defense to bail the team out, spoke volumes as well.
“It says that I have complete confidence in Lamar Jackson to make every play,” Harbaugh said. “I wish I had put him in a better position last week to make a play (in the overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders). I’ll just never, ever not have faith in him to make a play in any situation.”
As Jackson noted, the Ravens still haven’t won a Super Bowl – the ultimate edge Mahomes holds over him. And this was a regular-season win, rather than a legacy-defining postseason victory.
However, with his performance against the Chiefs, Jackson showed his mettle while rebounding from an ugly first quarter to direct a dramatic comeback victory against one of the most feared squads in the NFL.
His growth as a passer was on display, but so too was the Ravens’ commitment to still allowing Jackson to torment defenses with his legs.
Maybe it’s time to stop asking about when Jackson will take that next leap as an elite level passer. Whether with his arm or his legs, Jackson proved himself as the ultimate weapon – and elite in his own way.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were losers in their Week 2 game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders, and while the team recovers and prepares for next week, they will be watching the Sunday Night Football game closely.
For those wondering, you can enjoy some lively commentary with the best Steelers fans across the globe in the open thread for all BTSC members in the comment section below. Let’s remember to keep it clean, respect everyone’s thoughts and ideas, and ultimately remember we’re all here for the same reason—to root for the Steelers!
If you don’t want to hear the talking heads babble on about the two teams playing tonight, you can always watch the game on mute and listen to some of our great Steelers podcasts. Check out the playlist below:
So enjoy the game and be sure to follow BTSC for all the latest news surrounding the team throughout the game and afterwards!
Despite a losing effort, which member of the Steelers gave the most gutsy performance?
The Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to overcome a multitude of injuries as they fell to the Las Vegas Raiders by the score of 26-17 at Heinz Field. The loss could be attributed to many factors where the team came up short on both sides of the ball. Even though the Steelers came up short, there were some good performances of note from the black and gold.
So who gets the game ball?
Each game of the NFL season, I will set forth nominations to receive the BTSC game ball. It does not necessarily have to be the best player on the field, but who really stepped up their game this particular week. It may not even be their best performance, but perhaps overcoming some adversity will also put someone in consideration. After the case is been made, you all decide which player takes home the honor.
Week 1 Winner: T.J. Watt
With 2.0 sacks, 3 tackles, 5 quarterback hits, and a forced fumbled, T.J. Watt silenced those who questioned if he would be ready to start the season after working out his contract. Watt just edged out Cameron Heyward who had 12 quarterback pressures against the Bills.
So here are the nominations in no particular order:
Robert Spillane
Having to fill in as a starter once Devin Bush was deemed inactive for the game, Spillane saw his first action of the season as he was a last-minute scratch in Week 1 due to injury. For the game, Spillane had 10 tackles and several hard hits with one of them unfortunately being flagged for a penalty.
Cam Heyward
The Steelers defensive captain continues to fight on the defensive line and is a nuisance to the opposition. This week, Heyward had seven tackles, one of which was for loss, as well as a pass defensed as he is the only remaining healthy starter on the defensive line from who was expected for the 2021 season.
Melvin Ingram III
It’s only his second game with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Melvin Ingram registered his first sack in two years. He also added four tackles and three quarterback hits.
Chris Boswell
Dispite not getting much of a chance throughout the game, Boswell came in clutch for the Steelers to keep their hopes alive as he kicked a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Even though it wasn’t enough to give the Steelers the victory, it was the longest field goal in Heinz Field history.
Najee Harris
Although the Steelers running game is continuing to struggle, it’s not from a lack of effort from the Steelers first-round draft pick. With 38 yards on 10 carries, Harris also got involved in the passing game where he had 43 yards on five receptions and his first NFL touchdown.
So what do you think? Who deserves the game ball for the Steelers this week? Make sure you vote in the poll as this is how the winner will be determined. And of course, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
The injury bug has bitten the Pittsburgh Steelers in a big way heading into Week 3.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to pull off a second straight comeback after they dropped their first game of the season to the Las Vegas Raiders 26-17 at Heinz Field in Week 2. While the Steelers entered Week 2 relatively healthy, that all changed on Friday when two starters ended up on the injury report.
After Friday’s practice, both Joe Haden (groin) and Devin Bush (groin) were listed as questionable heading into Sunday. After pre-game warm ups, they were deemed not ready to play, and were inactive for the game.
But it got worse once the game started. First, it was Tyson Alualu who left with a fractured ankle, and then it was T.J. Watt who exited with a groin injury of his own. To make matters worse, on the final play of the game, Diontae Johnson injured his knee on a meaningless play.
After the game, Mike Tomlin spoke about the injuries and said Haden and Bush had “soft tissue” injuries. Tomlin said Alualu’s ankle injury will force him out of the lineup for a “significant amount of time”, and Watt’s groin will be monitored.
Tomlin says Haden and Bush had soft tissue injuries, Tyson Alualu had an ankle injury and will be out for a significant amount of time. TJ Watt has a groin injury.
Diontae Johnson has a knee injury, being evaluated.
After the game, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Alualu will have surgery on his ankle Monday, and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Tyson Alualu having surgery tomorrow for fractured ankle and expected to miss remainder of season.
With the injuries piling up, the Steelers will have to prepare for their first AFC North divisional contest with the Cincinnati Bengals coming to Heinz Field next Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
Unfortunately, the status of these players won’t be known until at the earliest Wednesday when the players return to the practice field and the first practice report is released. In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bengals in Week 3.
The Steelers drop their home opener as the injuries piled up throughout the day.
Knee-jerk Reactions are immediate responses to a situation without taking the time to analyze the situation. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do. Especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later. So with that being said, I’m going to employ that philosophy here during Week 2 of the 2021 NFL Season. Let’s get this going, HERE……WE……GO!!!
1st Quarter
Raiders win the tossing defer, Steelers to receive the kickoff.
Steelers face their first third down of the game, this needs to be converted.
Pass complete to JuJu Smith-Schuster for the first down pick up. Offense has a little bit of rhythm to start.
Second and 11, the throw only goes as far as the line of scrimmage. The Steelers have to throw the ball down the field more.
Is anyone surprised that Ebron didn’t make that catch?
The defense is already playing without Devin Bush and Joe Haden, and now Tyson Alualu is down on the grass. Not good.
Defense holds Raiders to punt. That’s two decent returns already for Ray-Ray McCloud. But he follows it up with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, so not so good.
Najee Harris with a big run up the middle. Let’s see some more of that.
Third down and 10, Roethlisberger under pressure just heaves one up and ends up being an interception. That was an extremely poor decision by Ben. And a poor job by Diontae Johnson not finishing his route to try to make a play on the ball.
WATT! Strip sack! But Raiders won the scrum.
Raiders convert the interception into three points. Raiders 3, Steelers 0.
That stiff arm by Najee looked very Vanimal-like.
Benny Snell snails his way back to the line of scrimmage.
Steelers got lucky on that third and eight. Throwing three yards behind the line of scrimmage and JuJu was able to make somebody miss and pick up the first.
End of the first. Raiders 3, Steelers 0.
2nd Quarter
Ben throws deep for Claypool, but the Raiders player made a nice play to knock it away.
Steelers go for it on 4th down, but the pass falls incomplete. Of all the times I would have thought the Steelers would be looking for short routes on 4th and 4 they were looking for more intermediate routes there.
I could not believe they flagged Spillane for that hit on Carr. He led with his shoulder and Carr was a running back.
Pierre looked terrible on that play.
The defense stiffens and holds the Raiders to a field goal. Raider 6, Steelers 0.
Open up with a nice pass to Diontae, followed by a beautiful run by Najee. Let’s keep it going offense.
Big play over the top to Diontae on third down. Love it. 1st and goal Steelers.
JuJu with the run for the touchdown! Steeler 7, Raiders 6.
Was nice to see the Steelers not go another entire first half without a score.
Defense is now getting picked apart by Derek Carr.
Justin Layne wasn’t able to keep the receiver from powering through for the first down on a third downplay. He needs to drive harder and keep him from making that first.
Just came in T.J. Watt is questionable to return with a groin injury. With Alualu now out, the defense is running shy on bodies.
Raiders convert a fourth and one and now have a first and goal. Not feeling good about this.
Pierre looked like he was burned badly on that touchdown throw, but got bailed out by a penalty on the Raiders.
Raiders go from second and goal on the two, to having several penalties and settling for a 41-yard field goal. Raiders 9, Steeler 7.
That’s the half. Raiders 9, Steeler 7. I hope the defense is actually able to make some adjustments with all the people they’ve lost for this game.
3rd Quarter
The defensive given up a few yards to start the third quarter, but has a chance to get off the field here with a third long. Need to hold.
Defense holds forces a punt. Let’s get down the field and retake the lead here.
Muuuuttthhh. Converts the 3rd down.
The problem with Ben is that when he holds the ball, he really holds it for a long time.
On 3rd down and 12 the Steelers throw the ball three yards. Not going to convert that way.
Thicc Kicc with a 58 yard punt. Nice.
The Raiders aren’t even trying to run the football, but the Steelers are allowing them to throw for seven or eight yards on every play.
Ingram! First sack with the Steelers.
On a third down and nine, they give up a 20-yard pass. I’m really starting to question whether the Steelers have enough to win this game.
Pierre looking bad again in the secondary. This guy was to make a huge jump in year two and we are really missing Joe Haden today.
Raiders throw for a touchdown. I hate to say it right now but you might be able to stick a fork in this one. Raiders 16, Steeler 7.
Seems like every time the Steelers start to get something going they shoot themselves in the foot.
Pressley Harvin pins the Raiders inside the 5-yard line with his punt. If there’s a time that the defense needed to come through it would be now.
That first down swing pass by the Raiders was just too easy to get 12 yards.
The Steelers are getting no pass rush, and are just dropping into soft zone and Derek Carr is picking it apart.
End of three. Raider 16, Steeler 7.
4th Quarter
Allowing the Raiders to complete short throws definitely doesn’t work when you can’t make a tackle.
Cam Heyward knocks down the 3rd down pass to force a punt.
Deep pass to Claypool! Then Ben drops the snap on the very next play.
Najee!!! Touchdown!!! On the downside, Turner with a penalty after the play and gets ejected from the game.
Raider 16, Steelers 14.
Just heard Renegade before the kickoff.
I’m so sick of seeing this soft zone right now from the Steelers defense.
The defense needs to get off the field on this third down play.
And instead they give up the huge play for a touchdown. Great call there Keith Butler. Raiders 23, Steelers 14. This one is done.
And the Steelers go three and out and decide to punt. I like to call that wave the white flag, with the decision to punt on 4th and 1 down 9 points with less than 9 minutes to play.
The defense then on the very first play lets the Raiders run for 11 yards, when everybody in the stadium knew it was going to be a run play.
The offense has it back and has moved slowly down the field, where the Raiders seem content to let them take time off the clock.
Sending Boswell out to try a 56-yard field goal to keep the Steelers in the game. Boswell goes right down the middle, to keep the Steelers in it. Raiders 23, Steelers 17.
I called the throw on second down before the ball was even snapped. That should end it. Don’t see the Steelers coming back from that one.
Last week’s win a lot of credit was given to the coaching staff on the play calling. I think I have to take this loss and put the same onus onto the coaching staff. They did not come with their best game today.
Raiders tack on a field goal. Raiders 26, Steelers 17. 20 seconds to play.
And on the last play of the game when we really should have just taken a knee to get out of there Diontae Johnson gets hurt. Bad call coaching staff. Raiders 26 Steelers 17.
There you have it, my knee jerks. What were your thoughts? Be sure to get your opinions heard in the comment section below. Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as the Steelers move on to Week 3 at home. Bring on the Bungles! CAN’T WAIT!!!!!
The Pittsburgh Steelers were losers in Week 2 when the Las Vegas Raiders came into Heinz Field and spoiled the Steelers’ home opener.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were coming off a huge upset win over the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 1, and their Week 2 game saw them back in the friendly confines of Heinz Field for their home opener vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
Prior to the game the team received some bad news when it was announced both Joe Haden and Devin Bush were inactive with groin injuries. This news put a stress on the Steelers’ defense, but if there is a side of the ball which can withstand these injuries it is the Pittsburgh defense.
Nonetheless, Derek Carr and company made the cross country trip on a short week after beating the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football in hopes of starting their season 2-0.
After Las Vegas won the opening coin toss, they elected to defer their possession to the second half, giving Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense the football to start the game. The offense was able to do nothing more than flip the field after just one first down on the drive before Pressley Harvin III was called on to punt for the first time of the game.
Starting at their own 15-yard line, the Raiders, like the Steelers’ first drive, was nothing more than a field-flipping drive. On the Steelers’ next drive it was Roethlisberger who was intercepted, giving Las Vegas the ball on the Pittsburgh 41-yard line. The Raiders were able to turn the interception into points, but just a Daniel Carlson 46-yard kick. Las Vegas took a 3-0 lead with 3:10 left in the first quarter.
After big plays to Najee Harris and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers had the ball at the Las Vegas 44 to start the second quarter. Getting the football on the cusp of field goal range, the Steelers elected to go for it on 4th and 4, but Ben Roethlisberger’s pass fell incomplete, turning it over on downs.
A questionable personal foul call on Robert Spillane hitting Derek Carr put the Raiders right back in field goal range. As Las Vegas worked their way into the red-zone, the Steelers’ defense stiffened and forced another Carlson field goal. The kick was good, making the score 6-0 with 9:34 left in the first half.
The Steelers’ offense turned to the no-huddle offense on their ensuing drive to jump start their production, and it worked. Two straight plays resulted in two first downs, and a 41-yard completion to Dionate Johnson moved the ball inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later the Steelers capped off the drive with a JuJu Smith-Schuster rushing touchdown, the first of his career, to take the lead.
The Chris Boswell point after was good, making the score 7-6 with 6:25 left in the second quarter.
Derek Carr and the Las Vegas offense matched the Steelers’ 75-yard drive with one of their own. Carr mixed up his targets as he had the offense in the red-zone at the two-minute warning of the first half. After a QB sneak on 4th and 1, the Raiders started moving in the wrong direction. A false start, holding and illegal man downfield penalty were forced to turn to Carlson again for a field goal. The kick made the score 9-7 at halftime.
The Las Vegas Raiders started the second half with the football, and both teams failed to do anything with their first drives of the third quarter. The Las Vegas second drive was the drive the offense was starting click on all cylinders. After being put in tough spots on critical downs, big completions to Hunter Renfrow and Henry Ruggs moved the ball into the Steelers’ red-zone. Once there, it was a perfect pass from Carr to Foster Moreau. The extra point was good, making the score 16-7 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.
All the Steelers’ offense could muster in the third quarter were field flipping drives, but their rookie punter was able to bail them out with big punts on more than one occasion. Harvin’s third quarter punt was for 42 yards and pinned the Raiders inside their own 5-yard line.
The Raiders were finally stopped without scoring points in the second half, and the Steelers had an opportunity to add to their point total. A 52-yard pass completion from Roethlisberger to Chase Claypool put the Steelers in scoring range, and it was the rookie, Najee Harris, putting an exclamation point on the drive with a nice catch and run for the touchdown.
The point-after by Boswell was good, making the score 16-14 with 11:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Needing an answer, Derek Carr continued to remain red-hot. The Raiders almost completely ignored the run, and relied on picking apart the Steelers’ secondary. On 3rd and 10 Carr hit Henry Ruggs for a 61-yard touchdown reception, making the score 23-14 after the extra point with 9:35 left in regulation.
Desperate for a drive, the Steelers were able to gain just 9 yards on their next drive. Facing a 4th and 1, Mike Tomlin elected to punt the ball instead of go for it on 4th and 1. The Harvin punt put the Steelers’ defense back on the field, and kill valuable time off the clock. After just one first down, the Raiders punted the football back to Pittsburgh with 5:51 remaining in regulation.
Roethlisberger connected on big conversion plays to Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris, which moved them into field goal range. After failing on 3rd and 10, Mike Tomlin elected to go for the 56-yard field goal. Chris Boswell nailed it to make the score 23-17 with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders put the icing on the cake when Carlson made a 45-yard kick to make the score 26-17. The score would stand as the final.
The Steelers’ loss was the first of the season, moving their record to 1-1 on the season. The team now prepares for their first AFC North divisional game next Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals come to Heinz Field.
The Las Vegas Raiders started the second half with the football, and both teams failed to do anything with their first drives of the third quarter. The Las Vegas second drive was the drive the offense was starting click on all cylinders. After being put in tough spots on critical downs, big completions to Hunter Renfrow and Henry Ruggs moved the ball into the Steelers’ red-zone. Once there, it was a perfect pass from Carr to Foster Moreau. The extra point was good, making the score 16-7 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.
All the Steelers’ offense could muster in the third quarter were field flipping drives, but their rookie punter was able to bail them out with big punts on more than one occasion. Harvin’s third quarter punt was for 42 yards and pinned the Raiders inside their own 5-yard line.
The Raiders had back to back first downs to dig out of their own endzone to end the third quarter.
