Pittsburgh Review

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders are set to face off in a game that continues a historic rivalry dating back to the 1970s. The series began in 1970, with the two teams meeting 11 times during that decade, including five playoff games. "Overall, the Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders lead this series 17-15," but both teams have split their postseason encounters evenly at 3-3.

Currently, the Steelers hold a record of 3-2 while the Raiders stand at 2-3. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents by 19 points this season, whereas Las Vegas has a point differential of minus-35 through five games. Despite recent losses for both teams, Pittsburgh's defeats were narrow with only three-point margins.

Pittsburgh's performance on the road has been strong, boasting an 11-4 record in their last 15 regular-season away games. They also maintain a streak of winning their past 14 road games when leading into the fourth quarter. In contrast, Las Vegas has struggled with turnovers and is currently at minus-7 for turnover differential this season.

Offensively, Pittsburgh averages fewer points per game compared to other teams with winning records but remains effective in certain areas such as rushing yards per game where they outperform opponents by an average of 30 yards. On defense, they allow only an average of 14.6 points per game and have shown resilience against explosive plays.

When it comes to key matchups on the field, attention will be on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers facing off against Steelers safety DeShon Elliott. Bowers recently demonstrated his capabilities with a significant catch-and-run touchdown last week and poses challenges due to his size and speed.

On the defensive side for Las Vegas, Maxx Crosby is expected to challenge Pittsburgh's offensive tackles significantly. Crosby is known for his relentless play style and ability to pressure quarterbacks from either edge position.

As both teams prepare for this upcoming clash, historical context adds another layer of intrigue given their storied past battles which include one of NFL history’s most memorable moments: "The Immaculate Reception" during a playoff game in December 1972.