It’s been a while since a regular season contest between the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers has had a playoff feel to it, but that’s exactly what you can expect when the two longtime rivals clash this Sunday at Heinz Field.
The Raiders (4-3) come into the contest winners of two straight, while the Steelers (4-4) are trying to halt their losing streak before it reaches three. Both teams are very much in the mix for the two Wild Card berths in the AFC, and the winner will take a big step towards separating themselves from the rest of the playoff hopefuls in the conference.
Let’s take a look at the matchup and make a prediction.
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Watch: CBS
Spread: Steelers (-4.5)
Series History: Raiders lead 12-9
Last regular season meeting: 10/27/13 at Oakland, Oakland 21 Steelers 18
Three keys to Steelers victory:
Limit Raiders young, talented offense – The Raiders head to Pittsburgh ranked ninth in total offense in the NFL. It’s the sixth time in nine games the Steelers defense has had to face a top-10 offense already this season, and although their record against those teams is 2-3, the unit has done a relatively good job of limiting their effectiveness.
That will be critical this Sunday when the defense will face one of the more talented offenses in the game with quarterback Derek Carr leading the way. Carr has passed for 1,793 yards, 15 TDs and just three interceptions through his first seven games and his passer rating of 105.7 is one of the best in the league.
Rookie sensation Amari Cooper is on pace to surpass the 80-catch plateau and looks like a first-round steal. Opposite Cooper is veteran Michael Crabtree, who seems to be getting comfortable with Carr, and is coming off his best game of the season against the New York Jets with seven grabs for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Running backs Latavius Murray and Taiwan Jones are a dynamic 1-2 punch, and Murray is ninth in the NFL with 534 yards this season. Jones is an explosive big-play threat who can catch the ball out of the backfield.
Pressure Carr and keep Murray at bay on the ground and the Steelers will have an edge.
Big Ben must shake off the rust – Ben Roethlisberger will be the first to admit that his three interception game last week against the Bengals was devastating in a one-possession loss. However, with Le’Veon Bell lost for the season, there will be little time to worry about the past for one of the best QB’s in the game.
Although ageless safety Charles Woodson and linebacker Khalil Mack are having tremendous seasons, the Raiders defense has struggled this year, especially against the pass. Only the Giants have given up more yards per game through the air than the Raiders, so this might be a prime opportunity for Roethlisberger to get back on track in a big way.
Despite of recent history, find a way to beat the Raiders – Some of the most frustrating losses of the Mike Tomlin era have come against the Raiders. In fact, despite of Oakland generally being one of the worst teams in the league without a notable interruption for over a decade, the Steelers have lost four of the last five to the Raiders.
Considering the quarterbacks in those games have been the likes of Terrelle Pryor, Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski, the Steelers will have a challenge ahead with Carr leading the Raiders offense.
This is a game the Steelers simply have to win. Considering a loss would make them 0-5 in the conference, a head-to-head loss to the Raiders would seriously alter the playoff landscape for the AFC.
Three keys to Raiders victory:
Convert drives into touchdowns – There is no question that teams have been able to move the ball offensively against the Steelers, but that has not always meant points. Oakland’s potent offensive attack is likely going to gain yards, especially through the air, but if they are leaning on kicker Sebastian Janikowski for their scoring, they could be in trouble.
This game has the potential to be high scoring, and I fully expect the Steelers offense to be a different one on Sunday against a suspect Oakland defense. Will Carr and company finish off drives? They better if they expect to get a tough road win.
Get off to a fast start -Fans are not always known for being reasonable or patient, even in Pittsburgh. Although injuries have been insane for the Steelers all season, fans still expect to win or else. After two straight losses and the Steelers playoff hopes very much in question, fans are frustrated.
A fast start by the Raiders might help get the natives restless at Heinz Field and that may cause the Steelers to play tight and press. The Raiders confidence is building every week and a quick start might be enough to push them to a pivotal win.
Take advantage of kicking edge – The Raiders kicking tandem of Janikowski and punter Marquette King is one of the best in the NFL and both players could play a big role in Sunday’s contest. Janikowski has one of the strongest legs in the NFL and his ability to kick from a range up to 60 yards and consistently drive his kickoffs for touchbacks could be key.
King led the league in punting in 2013 and has an average 45.4 yards per kick which once again is among the league leaders. After the special teams struggles the Steelers had last week, a decisive win by the Raiders in this phase might push them over the top.
Prediction – Considering my picks have been wrong for two consecutive weeks, I really don’t know what to expect from a team that just can’t seem to buy a break. I think both offenses are capable of putting points on the board in bunches, but can the Steelers defense put back to back outstanding efforts together at home? Yes they can, and I expect Carr to make a couple mistakes that make the difference. Steelers 35 Oakland 28
Photo credits: Scout.com
