Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Surprises from Week 2

Sep 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) catches a touchdown pass behind Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Las Vegas won 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) catches a touchdown pass behind Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Las Vegas won 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 4
Raiders
Sep 19, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) gestures on the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Las Vegas won 26-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Surprises from Week 2

Derek Carr

After the Week 1 performance put on by Carr, I am not sure this should even be a surprise, however, it was for this one. The Steelers defense destroyed All-Pro quarterback Josh Allen in the season opener, and at home in front of a raucous crowd, the expectations were the same going into the matchup against the Raiders.

Hardly anyone had the Raiders taking this one, but the scoreboard would indicate the media pundits were indeed wrong. Derek Carr absolutely shredded the Steelers’ defense, and in a game when the Steelers knew the Raiders were going to pass the ball, they still had no answer for the captain.

Carr had his way with the Steelers defense, while almost passing for 400 yards in back-to-back weeks, all the while, playing with a makeshift offensive line starting two backup guards, and losing starting right tackle Alex Leatherwood before the second half. Carr never lost a step, and honestly looked better as the game went on.

Trusting his receivers and never looking fearful to throw downfield or into coverage, Carr was in MVP form on Sunday.

Will this sparkling display continue? No one can say for sure, but the quarterback play is one of the key reasons the Raiders are one of the only undefeated teams still left in the AFC. It seems the Raiders have finally supported Carr with a solid supporting cast, and at this point early in the season, not one player has looked as good offensively as Derek Dallas Carr.

Schedule