In a high-stakes battle at Allegiant Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Las Vegas not for the glittering lights but for a gritty showdown with the Raiders. It was a business trip, and business was booming as the Steelers walked away with a 23-18 victory.
The atmosphere was electric, with a sea of black and gold filling the stadium. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin couldn’t have been prouder of his team’s performance, saying, “We did what we needed to do to secure a victory. It’s still early in the year, and we have a lot to learn, but it’s good to do so with a victory.”
Kenny Pickett, who had faced some early-season struggles, found his groove in Vegas. He threw for two touchdowns, connecting with Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth, tallying 235 passing yards.
Pickett himself acknowledged that perfection is elusive, but this victory was a significant step forward for the team. “There are always things that I’m going to want to improve on, but I think it’s a great step for us as a team to come on the road and secure back-to-back primetime wins,” he said.
The game started as a chess match, with both teams probing for weaknesses. The Raiders took the lead with a daring 32-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Davante Adams on a fourth-and-inches play-action. But the Steelers, despite a sluggish start, responded in style.
On a third-and-7 play, Pickett unleashed a 72-yard bomb to Calvin Austin III, who had slipped behind the Raiders’ defense. This electrifying play resulted in a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Pickett and the his team continued to make their presence felt. They forced a turnover when Levi Wallace intercepted Garoppolo. This set up a 43-yard field goal by Chris Boswell, giving the Steelers a 10-7 lead.
The Winners didn’t stop there. They forced another three-and-out by the Raiders and added another field goal, extending their lead to 13-7.
T.J. Watt, a defensive powerhouse for the Steelers, secured his second sack of the game, disrupting Garoppolo’s rhythm. Watt’s six sacks in three games set a Steelers record.
The third quarter saw the Winning team maintain their momentum. Pickett’s 57-yard field goal extended their lead to 16-7, and Watt continued to wreak havoc on the Raiders’ offense.
The Steelers further solidified their position with an 81-yard drive that culminated in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Pickett to Freiermuth. This touchdown pushed their lead to 23-7.
The Raiders mounted a late-game comeback effort, with Garoppolo connecting with Adams for another touchdown. A successful two-point conversion made it a one-possession game.
With time running out, the Raiders drove into field goal range, but a personal foul penalty against the Steelers gave the Raiders another chance. However, their comeback bid fell short, and they had to settle for another field goal.
The Steelers successfully ran down the clock, forcing the Raiders to use all their timeouts before punting the ball back to Las Vegas with just 12 seconds left. It was then that Levi Wallace intercepted Garoppolo for the second time, sealing the Steelers’ victory.
Net TakeAways from Steelers win over Raiders
The game was a testament to the Steelers’ resilience and determination. Despite a slow start, they showed their mettle and walked away with a hard-fought win. Coach Tomlin summed it up perfectly, saying, “We have a lot to learn and a lot to teach, but it’s good to do so with the victory.”
In Las Vegas, where stakes are high and fortunes change in an instant, the Steelers played their cards right and emerged victorious. It’s a win they can build on as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
