Las Vegas Raiders at Steelers 2022 Week 16: Bold Predictions
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders will battle through the elements in Week 16, and here are some bold predictions for the matchup in Pittsburgh.
Week 16 brings a rivalry matchup for the Las Vegas Raiders, as they head to Pennsylvania to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Eve night. The Raiders are fresh off a stunning victory over New England last weekend, needing all 60 minutes to defeat the Patriots, and will need to win out and get help to make the playoffs for the second straight season.
Here, we look at some bold predictions for the Week 16 matchup against Pittsburgh.
Raiders at Steelers 2022 Week 16: Bold Predictions
Derek Carr throws for multiple touchdowns
It is no big secret that Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr struggles in cold weather, and the elements will be like nothing he has played in so far in the NFL. The real feel for this matchup will be well below 0 degrees, so who knows what the team is going to get from No. 4 on Saturday night.
Carr has been playing below-average football as of late, something that cannot continue if the team is to make an improbable run to the playoffs. Against Pittsburgh, I believe he shreds the narrative about him not playing well in cold weather, throwing for at least two touchdowns.
Raiders defense forces multiple turnovers
The Steelers will welcome back Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback on Saturday night, this after he missed time due to a concussion. A rookie, Pickett has struggled to play consistent football in 2022, and in Week 16, he will be facing a Raiders pass rush that has really stepped up as of late.
I believe the pass rush, led by Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby, will force Pickett into some costly mistakes, leading to multiple turnovers for this Raiders defense. If they can win that battle, they should be able to leave Western PA with a victory.
Raiders win in blowout fashion
The Silver and Black go into this game as the underdog, but in terms of talent, they have more than enough to leave Acrisure Stadium with their seventh win of the season. In fact, if the offense is clicking, and the defense is causing issues for Kenny Pickett, Las Vegas could come away with a blowout win.
While that is not likely to happen, these are bold predictions, and Las Vegas has yet to have a real blowout victory this season. The weather is going to play a huge role in the action on Saturday night, but it is also Davante Adams’s birthday, so a monster effort from him is incoming.