Back to back primetime games for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they come off a Monday Night win over Cleveland. Now they head West to make their first ever appearance in the Las Vegas Raiders new digs! Here’s everything you need to know for the game.
What: Pittsburgh Steelers 1-1 at Las Vegas Raiders 1-1
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: 8pmET Sunday September 24th, 2023
Weather: It’s under a roof.
Wagering Information: Raiders -2.5 O/U 44
Last Week: The Raiders traveled East where they were beaten by the Buffalo Bills 38-10. The Steelers earned their first win of the new season with a 26-22 win over the Browns.
TV: NBC Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analysis), Melissa Stark (field reporter)
TV Coverage in Your Area: National TV Audience
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
Westwood One Radio: Ryan Radtke (play-by-play), Mike Golic (analysis)
Head Official: Tra Blake. The Software Quality Control Manager from Central Florida is in his second year as a head official. Oddly enough, his last time working a Steelers’ game was last season’s win over the Raiders in Pittsburgh. Just five penalties were accepted in that game.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT:No. 89 WR Gunner Olszewski (Concussion) – Out LVR: No. 9 DE Tyree Wilson (Illness) – Questionable
Injury Notes: With Olszewski out and Anthony McFarland on IR, Calvin Austin III will be tasked with handling both the kick and punt return duties.
2023 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 27th LVR 31st Passing Offense: PIT 19th LVR 22nd Rushing Offense: PIT 31st LVR 30th
Total Defense: PIT 23rd LVR 26th Passing Defense: PIT 15th LVR 17th Rushing Defense: PIT 31st LVR 26th
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 2-0, Cleveland 1-1, Pittsburgh 1-1, Cincinnati 0-2,
This Week in the AFC North: Indianapolis at Baltimore 1pmET, Tennessee at Cleveland 1pmET, LA Rams at Cincinnati MON. 815pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are 41-29-1 all-time in games following a Monday Night contest… Pittsburgh has played 117 career games on five days rest (Leads the NFL) and has 10 of their last 13 games following a Monday Nighter… Under Mike Tomlin, the Steelers are 14-8-1 on five days rest… The Steelers are 41-32 all-time in domed stadiums… This is the first of three games in the Pacific Coast Time Zone for the Steelers this year (LAR, SEA) and their first time in that zone since 2021.
Sunday Night Football History: The Steelers are 31-27 all-time in Sunday Night Football Games… They have a record of 17-17 on the road… After winning nine straight SNF games from 2013 to 2017 the Steelers have lost seven of their last ten SNF contests… Ben Roethlisberger threw for 506 yards in a 39-38 win over Baltimore on a SNF game in 2017…
Las Vegas Raiders Names to Know: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Josh Jacobs, DE Maxx Crosby, WR Devante Adams, WR Hunter Renfrow, CB Marcus Peters, PK Daniel Carlson
What’s at Stake: Both teams are 1-1 but are facing different circumstances within their respective divisions. The Raiders are tied at the top with Kansas City while the Chargers and Broncos are 0-2. The Steelers are tied with Cleveland at 1-1 and on top of Cincinnati who is 0-2. The Ravens, who the Steelers will host in week five, are 2-0. Both teams are struggling to run the ball and to stop it.
All-Time Series: Raiders lead all-time 17-14 and lead in Oakland/LA/LV 9-6.
Last Meeting: December 2022 in Pittsburgh. Steelers 13 Raiders 10
Postseason History: Tied 3-3
Steelers Game Highs vs LVR: PASSING: Ben Roethlisberger 384 yards 2012 RUSHING: De’Angelo Williams 170 yards 2015 RECEIVING: Antonio Brown 284 yards 2015 SACKS: Joey Porter (2002) and Kimo Von Oelhoffen (2003) 3 sacks INTERCEPTIONS: Most recent: Joey Porter (2002) 2 INT
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Something’s Got to Give. Both the Steelers and the Raiders are struggling to run the ball. Both offenses are literally the pointing Spider-man meme right now. But both are also licking their chops at the prospect of getting back on track at the expense of the opposing defense. If the Steelers want to win this game then they need to run the ball more effectively and also stop it more effectively too. Breiden Fehoko has been added to the 53-man roster and he’s strictly a nose tackle who’ll be used on early downs. Teryl Austin needs to find a positive rotation especially with Cam Heyward out. Offensively, it starts up front. Mason Cole needs to stop getting pushed backwards and instead do some pushing of his own. And don’t be surprised to see even more Jaylen Warren this week too. Najee Harris’ burst just isn’t there.
2. Get the Tight Ends Involved. Through two games Pat Freiermuth has two receptions. Darnell Washington has none. I’m in no way suggesting that Washington or Muth should be getting tons of targets but when you’re also without your top receiver in Diontae Johnson, one would think you’d take advantage of having these two guys. Their effectiveness can be determined by the running game too. A more effective run game means play-action and more opportunities but regardless, Matt Canada needs to get these guys more involved.
3. TACKLE. Over the curse of the first two weeks, it has become abundantly clear that the Steelers are not tackling well. To be fair, both Christian McCaffery and Nick Chubb are not the easiest guys to bring down. But missed tackles were occurring on several other players too. Guys are not keeping their heads up and they just aren’t wrapping up guys either. Along comes another tough back in Josh Jacobs and yet another powerful and dynamic receiver in Davante Adams. Missed tackles are going to happen but the Steelers need to make a concerted effort to do better. Every yard matters in the NFL.
Prediction: This is not a good Raiders team but I honestly don’t know how good this Steelers’ team is. They’ve faced two of the League’s best defenses to open the season so is expecting the offense to play better out of the question? I don’t believe it is. Kenny Pickett needs to find his inner Ben Roethlisberger and start saying “To hell with Canada.” He’s being restrained like a mustang looking to run and it’s doing no good for anyone. I fully expect the game to be close because that’s just what we do on the West Coast but I think things come together a bit more in week three.
Steelers 20 Raiders 16
Season Record: 1-1
