Las Vegas Raiders: 3 Keys to victory against Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2
By CJ Errickson
The Las Vegas Raiders take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on a short week in Week 2, and here are their keys to victory this Sunday inside Heinz Field.
The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off a thrilling overtime victory versus the Baltimore Ravens to start their season, beating Baltimore as the underdog in overtime. However, injuries and a short week before visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers spell for an uphill battle for the Raiders this Sunday.
Las Vegas is dealing with a ton of injuries, as the team has lost two veteran players for the season. Both offensive guard Denzelle Good and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy suffered season-ending knee injuries in Week 1, and to make matters more complex, the Silver and Black are traveling to face one of the NFL’s most complete teams.
Pittsburgh dominated Buffalo in Week 1
Traveling to face a team of the Pittsburgh Steelers caliber is no easy task, and last weekend, the Steelers punished Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a 23-16 come from behind victory on the road. In addition to containing 2020’s runner-up MVP candidate, Pittsburgh held 2020 All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs to under 70 yards receiving with zero touchdowns.
However, like the Raiders, the Black and Yellow utilized a complete team effort in their spirited come from behind victory.
Steelers can win in all three phases
The Steelers are commandeered by Ben Roethlisberger, who is entering his 18th NFL season. While some pundits and fans may say he is past his prime, he is still a highly experienced NFL signal-caller. Reinforcing him in the backfield is the talented rookie running back from the University of Alabama, Najee Harris.
The Steelers’ offense cannot be underestimated with Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson to throw to behind a quality offensive line. They are a more arduous task for the Raiders than the Ravens were in Week 1. Moreover, their special teams unit was the spark that initiated their comeback last week.
This Sunday, the Raiders must follow the following keys to victory if they want to depart Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with a win.