Sunday wasn't a banner day for Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The turf was the Raiders' most valuable player in a Week 14 win, causing Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell to slip on a game-tying field-goal attempt as time expired. There also was the matter of not one, but two dead rodents in a vending machine.
"I was glad I only had coffee," a press-box source told NBC Sports California on the condition of anonymity. (Editor's Note: It was Raiders Insider Scott Bair)
Plus, an outdated X-ray machine kept Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger out for much of the second half, according to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"The X-ray was inconclusive because the machine was old," Roethlisberger told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan (H/T KDKA-TV).
We're sure CC Sabathia empathizes.
Roethlisberger suffered an injury in the first half, but he said he still didn't know what his injury was when he left the locker room at the start of the second half. He said he took a pain-killing shot after being evaluated for a rib injury, and he ultimately felt he was able to return when Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called his number with just over five minutes remaining.
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The 36-year-old led the Steelers on a go-ahead touchdown drive once Roethlisberger returned, and Pittsburgh was in position to tie the score, thanks to a hook-and-lateral on his second drive. Then, the Coliseum turf struck.
The Raiders have one home game remaining in Oakland this season when they host the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve. It might be the last Raiders game in Oakland, after the city announced it was suing the team and the NFL. That lawsuit could have profound consequences for all parties, but that means there's only one more chance for stories like this.
Well, at least until A's Opening Day.
