There are several things in the Raiders’ favor this Sunday.
When 4-3 Oakland takes on the 4-4 Steelers in Pittsburgh (10 a.m. kickoff), the Raiders will still be feeling the momentum of two straight victories. They also have an offense and defense that are clicking.
In leading consecutive victories over the Chargers and Jets, young quarterback Derek Carr has thrown seven touchdown passes and zero interceptions, and his fellow playmakers – specifically Latavius Murray, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree – have been too much to handle for opposing defenses.
Plus, the Steelers are coming off a loss to the Bengals and have lost outstanding running back Le’Veon Bell for the season. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also is just 9-10 against AFC West teams in his career, including a 21-18 Oakland victory in October of 2013, the last time the teams met.
But still, oddsmakers aren’t completely sold on the Raiders. They’ve made the Steelers 6-point favorites. Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio, too, believes his team can’t let up. Though the Raiders have suddenly become national media darlings – many see a franchise on the rise – Del Rio sees pitfalls. Two straight victories don’t mean a thing.
“Each week you start over,” he told reporters this week.
In particular, Del Rio noted that for Oakland to win, it will have to protect Carr, continue to stop the run and contain wide receiver Antonio Brown.
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Pittsburgh has 22 sacks this year, its most after eight games since 2010. And, though Bell is out, veteran DeAngelo Williams will step in, and he’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Plus, the Steelers' run blocking is terrific. Pittsburgh leads the NFL with 11 rushes for 20 or more yards.
Brown, meanwhile, is an explosive receiver and a deep threat with Roethlisberger’s strong arm. Brown has 52 catches for 718 yards and three TDs.
“He’s explosive,” said Del Rio. “He’s explosive to the ball. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can score from anywhere. He’s a good route runner. He really attacks the football. He’s a really good football player. Not only on offense is he a threat, but he’s the punt returner and he does a heck of a juob there. Again, he’s a guy we’ve got to know where he is on the football field.”
In his six seasons, Brown has three punt returns for TDs and averages almost 10 yards per return.
Before this season, road games in the east spelled certain defeat for the Raiders. But in Week 3, the Raiders beat the Browns in Cleveland. A victory Sunday would give the team its first consecutive victories in the Eastern Time Zone since 2002. Plus, a win will give the Raiders a winning record at the season’s halfway point for the first time since 2001.
Certainly, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is one who sees the Raiders as a new team, far advanced from recent seasons.
Said Tomlin to Bay Area reporters on a conference call this week: “They’re making splash plays and they’re competitive. Their young talent is performing. Carr is really impressive. Cooper is impressive. (Khalil) Mack is impressive. Mario Edwards Jr. is impressive. They’re getting great contributions from young talent. They appear to be a team on the rise.”
