Pittsburgh Review

The Las Vegas Raiders started strong against the Pittsburgh Steelers, moving 70 yards on their first drive. Quarterback Aidan O'Connell completed four passes for 45 yards, and running back Alexander Mattison scored a touchdown. However, after this initial success, the Raiders struggled to gain ground. The Steelers' defense limited them to only three first downs in their next six possessions.

O'Connell, in his 11th career start, found himself under pressure as T.J. Watt forced two fumbles and Jeremiah Moon blocked a punt that led to a Pittsburgh touchdown. "Really nothing," said Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson about the defensive turnaround. "We just made sure that we knew that was it."

The Steelers managed to control the game after understanding the Raiders' strategy and focusing on executing their own game plan. Defensive leader Cam Heyward emphasized playing individual roles correctly rather than trying too hard for big plays.

Safety DeShon Elliott noted the defense's improvement: "We got comfortable and we started playing like ourselves after that first touchdown." The defense allowed only two third-down conversions out of eleven attempts by Las Vegas.

T.J. Watt's impact extended beyond sacking quarterbacks; his ability to force turnovers played a crucial role in shifting momentum towards Pittsburgh. Head coach Mike Tomlin praised Watt's consistent ability to change games: "(I) can't say enough about T.J."

Offensively, Najee Harris led with impressive runs while quarterback Justin Fields added significant yardage on foot despite some passing struggles. "Everybody has mis-throws," Fields commented on missed opportunities during the game.

Injuries continued to affect the Steelers' offensive line with rookie center Zach Frazier suffering an ankle injury. Despite these challenges, Pittsburgh maintained its performance thanks in part to players like Ryan McCollum stepping up when needed.

With a 4-2 record, largely due to strong road performances, the Steelers now look forward to home games against New York teams at Acrisure Stadium where fan support remains strong.