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Game Preview: Raiders host Steelers for Week 6 battle

Oct 08, 2024 at 03:00 PM

Rachel Gossen

Digital Managing Editor

The Las Vegas Raiders (2-3) come back to Allegiant Stadium for Week 6 with a matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) on deck.

Kickoff is set for Sunday, October 13 at 1:05 p.m.

Broadcast information

Network/Flagship	Play-by-play	Color Analyst
TV: CBS	Ian Eagle	Charles Davis
Local Radio: KOMP 92.3 FM and KRLV "Raider Nation Radio 920 AM"	Jason Horowitz	Lincoln Kennedy
Spanish Radio: Deportes Vegas 1460 AM	Harry Ruiz	Mayra Gomez

Opponent profile

Coach: Mike Tomlin

Quarterback: Justin Fields

2023 record: 10-7

Key additions: QB Russell Wilson, QB Justin Fields, LB Patrick Queen, WR Roman Wilson

Key losses: QB Kenny Pickett, QB Mitchell Trubisky, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Allen Robinson, CB Levi Wallace

Steelers Roster | Steelers Depth Chart

What to know

The Steelers will undoubtedly be coming to Vegas hungry for a win after suffering their second straight loss – a last-second 20-17 defeat on Sunday Night Football at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. While the Raiders offense got off to a hot start before fizzling out against the Broncos, the Steelers have been the opposite. In both of its last two games (Week 4 vs. Colts, Week 5 vs. Cowboys), Pittsburgh mustered just three points in the first half. For the Raiders and Steelers, penalties have been a contributing factor to stalled successes with the Raiders totaling 11 penalties and the Steelers eight in Week 5.

The Steelers acquired quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Justin Fields this past offseason but with Wilson dealing with a calf injury since Week 1, Fields has been the starting QB through the first five games. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Wilson will be a full participant in practice this week, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor, however, the veteran QB will work with the second team "as to not disrupt Justin's preparation."

On the other side of the ball, T.J. Watt continues to show his dominance on a defense that is tied for second in fewest points allowed. The three-time single-season sack leader (2020, '21, '23) recorded his 100th career sack on Sunday night and became the second fastest player to reach the milestone, doing so in 109 games. The last time Watt faced the Raiders in 2023, he notched two sacks, three quarterback hits and two tackles for loss while playing 82% of defensive snaps.

Matchup history

The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series against the Steelers, 14-12, dating back to 1970.
Last time: Steelers won last meeting, 23-18, on Sept. 24, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium.
Current streak: The Steelers have won the last two matchups against the Raiders.

A look at the stats

Following Week 5, the Raiders offense ranks 24th in the league in total offense (297.0 yards per game), tied for 15th in passing (213.0 ypg), 30th in rushing (84.0 ypg) and tied for 22nd in points (19.2 ppg). Defensively, the Raiders rank 17th in total defense (333.2 ypg), 16th in passing (201.4 ypg), 23rd in rushing (131.8 ypg) and 28th in points allowed (26.2 ppg).

The Steelers offense ranks 23rd in the league in total offense (299.4 yards per game), 27th in passing (178.2 ypg), 13th in rushing (121.2 ypg) and 26th in points (18.4 ppg). Defensively, the Steelers rank eighth in total defense (298.0 ypg), 17th in passing (206.8 ypg), fifth in rushing (91.2 ypg) and tied for second in points allowed (14.6 ppg).

Milestones to watch

TE Brock Bowers needs 87 receiving yards to become one of two tight ends in NFL history to reach 400+ receiving yards in his first six career games, joining Kyle Pitts (471 in 2021).
Bowers needs 11 receptions to reach 39 career receptions through his first six career games, the most in NFL history by a tight end.
DE Maxx Crosby needs 1.0 sack to pass Anthony Smith (57.5) for third on the Raiders all-time sacks list.
With five more tackles for loss over the next three games, Crosby would join J.J. Watt (138) and Aaron Donald (114) as the only three players in the NFL since 1999 to record 100+ tackles for loss in their first 90 career games.
LB Robert Spillane needs 10 tackles to become one of five players in NFL history to record 10+ total tackles in each of the first six games of a single season, joining Ray Lewis (1999), Zach Thomas (2005), Luke Kuechly (2016) and Denzel Perryman (2021).
RB Zamir White needs 51 rushing yards to become one of seven running backs in Raiders history to rush for 600+ rushing yards in his first nine career starts.
DT Christian Wilkins needs five tackles to reach 375 career tackles, the second most tackles by a defensive lineman through 86 career games in the NFL since 2000. He would trail only J.J. Watt (390).

Team connections

Steelers running back Cordarrelle Patterson spent the 2017 season with the Raiders.
Steelers punter Corliss Waitman was part of the Raiders during training camp in 2021.
Steelers senior coaching assistant Garrett Giemont spent eight seasons as a member of the Raiders staff (1995-2002).
Steelers inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry played for the Raiders during the 2011 season.
Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane played four seasons (2019-22) with the Steelers.
Raiders safeties coach Gerald Alexander was the Steelers assistant defensive backs coach from 2022-23.

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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby's (98) pads in the locker room prior to the Las Vegas Raiders' arrival for their regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.