Tag: Steelers vs Raiders

Steelers RB keeps proving all the critics wrong

Najee Harris powers the Steelers offense to a big win over the Raiders.

Every time we give up on Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, he has a game like he did on Sunday. The team opted not to give Harris his fifth-year option this offseason and there was no mention of a contract extension either.

And while Harris’ 2024 campaign hasn’t been great, you have to give the man credit for his effort this week and every week. Harris ran hard on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, with angry runs, dragging defenders and pushing for extra yards.

Harris carried the ball 14 times for 106 yards and a rushing touchdown on Sunday. He worked well with quarterback Justin Fields, who rushed for 59 yards. The Steelers’ 183 rushing yards were the best of the season, and it was only the second time the team scored more than 30 points in the last 47 games.

It isn’t clear if Harris is in the Steelers longterm plans but there’s not a guy on the team who plays with more heart or passion than No. 22.

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Steelers shake off slow start for big win over Raiders

Pittsburgh dominated the Raiders on Sunday and got 30 points for the first time this season.

When the game started, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers were in for a long day against the Las Vegas Raiders. But after surrendering an early touchdown the Steelers defense put the clamps down on the Raiders and the offense got 30 points for the first time this season en route to a 32-13 win.

The Steelers offense was powered by big plays from quarterback Justin Fields and running back Najee Harris on the ground to keep the chains moving. Fields finished with 145 passing yards and 59 on the ground and Harris had his best game of the season with 106 rushing yards. Harris scored one rushing touchdown and Fields chipped in two of his own.

On defense, Pittsburgh completely snuffed out the Raiders rushing offense leaving only quarterback Aidan O’Connell and a short-handed receiving group. Thanks to some garbage-time yards, O’Connell did finish with 227 yards but threw one interception as well. The Steelers also got two key fumble recoveries and when this team wins the turnover battle, they typically win.

Now the Steelers come back to Pittsburgh for back-to-back home primetime games before the bye week. First up for the New York Jets followed by the New York Giants.

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Steelers vs Raiders inactives: Pittsburgh gets back key RB but thin at EDGE

Here are the inactives for this week’s game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders both head into this week’s game banged up and missing several key players. For the Steelers, they lost three of their four top edge defenders already this season and unfortunately won’t have Alex Highsmith or Nick Herbig this week as both are inactive.

Here are the full inactive lists for both teams.

No. 4 QB Kyle Allen (3rd QB)
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith
No. 64 OG Max Scharping
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson

Raiders Inactives

No. 3 RB Zamir White
No. 16 WR Jakobi Meyers
No. 17 WR Davante Adams
No. 27 CB Sam Webb
No. 45 LB Tommy Eichenberg
No. 77 T Thayer Munford Jr.
No. 97 DE Janarius Robinson

The Raiders will be minus their top running back and their top two wide receivers. Starting right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. is also inactive, and that’s where Steelers edge T.J. Watt lines up.

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Former Steelers HC appeals to Arthur Smith to open up the offense for Justin Fields

Bill Cowher has advice for Arthur Smith.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans are used to seeing a conservative Steelers offense in recent years. This season is no different. But wait, things are different. There’s a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith and a new quarterback in Justin Fields.

Even with these upgrades, the Steelers offense is still stuck in neutral. But this time it feels self-imposed by Smith. He’s got an athlete in Fields and he’s got a freakish athlete in wide receiver George Pickens but seems content trying to grind out a run game that hasn’t been at all effective.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was on the pregame show and he implored Smith to open things up for Fields and give him a chance to make some plays.

“Arthur Smith, open this offense up,” Cowher said. “I think give him a chance to start spreading out the field. Go empty, go no-huddle. Use him now and give him a chance to grow as a quarterback.”

Cowher is fully aware of how you go outside of your comfort zone when you have an athletic quarterback. He did something similar with Kordell Stewart so he has some insight that Smith needs to listen to.

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