The Steelers held off the Raiders on Sunday Night Football. Join The Athletic's team of experts and insiders as we break down all the action.
Vic Tafur, Tashan Reed, Mark Kaboly, Mike DeFabo and The Athletic NFL Staff
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Raiders make it a one-possession game
The Steelers’ defense was not happy when Minkah Fitzpatrick’s sack was undone by a questionable penalty for roughing the passer, but the Raiders cashed the opportunity in for a touchdown.
After a penalty on the initial two-point try, the Raiders converted the second, and we have a one-possession game with 5:41 to play.
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Adams notches 22nd career game with 10-plus catches
According to the Las Vegas Raiders, wide receiver Davante Adams has now posted his 22nd career game with 10-plus receptions, tying Andre Johnson (22) for the second-most such games in NFL history.
He is currently at 11 catches tonight for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Dame Lillard can't believe his eyes
NBA star and noted Raiders fan Damian Lillard does not like what he's seeing on "Sunday Night Football."
Steelers have taken stranglehold on game
It’s not over, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have taken a stranglehold on this game after another great play on defense. Levi Wallace’s pass breakup on fourth-and-5 halted a 10-play, 53-yard drive by the Raiders, which was set back by penalty.
The Steelers lead by 16 with 13:13 to go and have scored on each of their last four drives (excluding a meaningless run to end the first half) and five of their last six.
Steelers' Keeanu Benton gets first NFL sack
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Keeanu Benton, known more as a run-stuffer in college, bursts into the backfield for his first NFL sack.
Raiders seemingly unraveling
Take your pick in terms of what is going worse for the Raiders right now. To follow up an awful interception by Jimmy Garoppolo — his NFL-leading fifth on the season — the Raiders allow the Steelers to easily cruse down the field for a touchdown.
Oh, and Las Vegas still can't get its running game going, with Josh Jacobs limited to 31 yards on 10 carries.
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Steelers drive 81 yards on 6 plays for TD
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense is really clicking for the first time this regular season, marching 81 yards on six plays, with Kenny Pickett finding Pat Freiermuth for a 13-yard touchdown on a corner route.
The drive was filled with chunk gains: 17 yards to George Pickens, 16 to Jaylen Warren, 14 to Freiermuth and a 17-yard run by Najee Harris before the touchdown, as Pittsburgh cashes in Patrick Peterson’s interception for a 23-7 lead.
Garoppolo ties Howell for most picks in NFL this season
Jimmy Garoppolo is intercepted for the second time of the night, his fifth of the season, which ties Sam Howell for most in the league.
A three-and-out and an interception are not the ideal way for the Raiders offense to start the second half.
Steelers bring in second pick of the night
Patrick Peterson’s Steelers tenure has gotten off to a rocky start, but he has his first interception with Pittsburgh after Jimmy Garoppolo threw up an ugly pass down the sideline toward Jakobi Meyers.
That’s the Steelers’ second interception of the night and seventh’ takeaway through three games.
Another drive, another field goal
Another Steelers drive, another field goal, but this one was a much bigger challenge. The ball was placed by holder Pressley Harvin III on the “S” in the Raiders’ logo at midfield. Chris Boswell didn’t mind at all, blasting the 57-yard field goal right down the middle for a 16-7 lead.
The score was set up by George Pickens’ 32-yard catch-and-run from Kenny Pickett to convert third-and-5.
Raiders must look to find second-half success
Kirby Lee / USA Today
The Las Vegas Raiders trail the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-7 at halftime and are well within striking distance, provided quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is healthy enough to return.
But the Raiders haven't been much of a second-half team so far in 2023, totaling just seven second-half points through two games. They've been outscored 20-7 in those four quarters, including 17-0 in the second half last week against the Bills. Garoppolo and company will have to find a way to be more productive if they hope to have a chance this evening against the visiting Steelers.
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T.J. Watt has NFL-high 6 sacks thus far
T.J. Watt had two sacks in the first half, giving him an NFL-high six through two-and-a-half games.
In 2021, when Watt tied Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record with 22.5, he didn’t get his sixth sack until Week 6.
Raiders trail by 6 at half as Garoppolo exits field early
Kirby Lee / USA Today
Las Vegas Raiders trail the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-7 at halftime. I thought the Raiders defense was decent, but made a few untimely mistakes. The offense has largely been a mess outside of one productive drive.
The O-line is getting beat often, as Jimmy Garoppolo has been hit-or-miss and the run game had been stagnant. Obviously, the biggest concern for the Raiders right now is the health of Garoppolo after he was hurt on a sack late in the second quarter. For what it's worth, he jogged off the field into the locker room after.
Garoppolo walks to locker room early
Jimmy Garoppolo is headed to the Las Vegas Raiders' locker room early after falling awkwardly on another T.J. Watt sack.
Steelers extend lead to 13-7
After two three-and-outs to start the game, the Pittsburgh Steelers have gained at least 44 yards on three of their last four possessions, a sign of progress. However, they’ve stalled twice in scoring range, settling for field goals.
Chris Boswell has hit from 43 and 42 yards, and Pittsburgh leads 13-7 with 1:56 to play before halftime.
Another quiet performance for Jacobs thus far
It's been another quiet half for the NFL's reigning rushing champion, who has seven carries for 18 yards.
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Steelers keep chipping away
The 43-yard field goal by Chris Boswell gives the Pittsburgh Steelers a 10-3 lead with 8:33 left in the first half.
The 10 points by the Steelers tonight are the most scored by the Pittsburgh offense in a single half this season.
Jimmy G struggling with turnovers
The interception by Jimmy Garoppolo was already his fourth of the season, tied for second most in the NFL (Sam Howell has five).
Garoppolo has now thrown as many picks this season (4 in 63 attempts) as he did all of last season (4 in 308 attempts).
Steelers' Levi Wallace picks off Garoppolo
Levi Wallace has his first interception of the year, undercutting rookie tight end Michael Mayer to grab Jimmy Garoppolo’s pass at the Steelers’ 31. T.J. Watt, who already has a sack, applied the pressure and hit Garoppolo as he threw.
It’s the sixth takeaway for the Steelers’ defense this season.
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