For the first two weeks of the 2023 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were struggling with their offense.
It was in Week 3, when national television viewers were watching, that it was time to reduce the crime, and they did just that.
In a Sunday night football game at Elegant Stadium, the balanced attack by the Steelers against the Las Vegas Raiders, with a score of 23-18, was inspiring. Many Steelers fans in attendance did more than just cheer, as Kenny Pickett threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, the defense sacked Jimmy Garoppolo three times, and the team took a 2-1 lead in the AFC North.
The Raiders won the toss but deferred, bringing Kenny Pickett and the offense out to start the game, albeit briefly. The Steelers went three and out after three consecutive runs. The Raiders did the same, and Pittsburgh escaped unscathed before any offense could make a move.
After another three-and-out for the Steelers, the Raiders’ Devante Adams connected with Josh Jacobs for a five-yard run to secure the game’s first first down. Adams kept the drive alive with 19 yards through the air, and the Steelers thought T.J. Watt had forced Jacobs into a stumble on the next play but were denied.
The Steelers gave Garoppolo a third chance, but before any offense could do anything, Levon Wallace and Patrick Peterson both leaped over Adams to intercept a deep pass. The Raiders led 7-0 early in the first quarter.
Pickett wasted no time in responding. He threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Austin III between three games, tying the game up. Jalen Warren’s blitz pickup was crucial in giving Pickett enough time. T.J. Watt later sacked Garoppolo, forcing him into another punt.
The Steelers’ next drive started off ominously, with Pickett throwing a pass straight into the arms of Marcus Peters. Fortunately, Peters was unable to hold on, and after the Steelers punted for the second time, the first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie.
Adams continued to burn the Steelers’ secondary with six more and 19 yards to extend the Raiders’ drive. However, their progress was halted by Wallace, who stepped in front of a pass from Garoppolo at the Pittsburgh 31-yard line.
Pat Freiermuth extended the drive with a 14-yard reception, his first of the game. Then, Harris powered his way for nine yards, and a Max Crosby unnecessary roughness penalty pushed the Steelers even further. But the drive stalled in the red zone, and Chris Boswell kicked a 43-yard field goal to give Pittsburgh a 10-7 lead with 8:37 left in the second quarter.
After forcing the Raiders to punt once more, the Steelers were set to take the ball back. Pickett completed his first pass to George Pickens, then exploited a coverage mismatch against rookie Jakorian Bennett, who was covering Austin.
Warren and Pickett advanced the series with consecutive runs, and the Steelers had a new set of downs at the Raider’s 25-yard line with just under 3:30 left until halftime. Peters brought Harris down for a five-yard loss, giving the Steelers only a two-minute warning to tie the game. Peters tackled Harris for a five-yard loss, and the Steelers kicked a 42-yard field goal just two minutes before halftime. Boswell extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 13-7.
The Raiders attempted a fruitless two-minute drill that ended when Watt sacked Garoppolo at an awkward angle. As soon as the Raiders tried to end the half, Watt struck. Garoppolo returned to the field to start the second half, but the drive ended when Wallace deflected a pass aimed at Harris in the middle of the field.
Pickett’s connection with Pickens for 32 yards and a catch-and-run by Pat Freiermuth set up the Steelers nicely, and Boswell was in range for a 57-yard field goal, which he connected on to extend the Steelers’ lead to 16-7 early in the third quarter. There’s still plenty of game to play in the third quarter at 9:33.
Garoppolo tried to make amends with a second-and-10 pass to Adams from all sides of the midfield, but he aimed it straight towards the Steelers’ secondary. After attempting to direct traffic, he didn’t throw the ball towards any receiver, and Peterson came down with the interception.
Pickett and the offense began to build their rhythm with their next possession. Harris covered 17 yards on his own, and Pickett connected all four of his passes for a total of 60 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown strike to Fitzpatrick. This pushed the home team ahead 23-7.
The Raiders responded with Jacoby Meyers and Adams starting to make gains, but Keion Benton halted their march with his first career sack.
Then, Dillon Parham faced consecutive penalties, pushing Las Vegas back to their own 34-yard line. The Raiders made a strong effort to come back in the fourth and fifth positions, but a breakup by Wallace thwarted their final attempt, and the Steelers regained possession on their 21-yard line.
The Steelers took just 2 minutes and 29 seconds before punting for the first time in three matches, and the Raiders began to pick up the pace with their next possession. Garoppolo completed three straight passes, and Jacobs ran for 15 yards on two runs, taking them inside the Pittsburgh 30-yard line.
Minkah Fitzpatrick got Garoppolo sacked on second and 10, but due to a pass interference penalty, the Raiders got a second life and Adams threw a touchdown pass. After another penalty, this time on Sullivan for pass interference, the Raiders converted the two-point attempt, making it a one-score game at 23-15 with 5:41 left to play.
The Steelers went three-and-out in just 50 seconds, and the Raiders got the ball back at their own 14-yard line with 4:35 remaining. Garoppolo completed passes to Adams for 12 yards to move forward, and then a short run by Jacobs set them up for fourth and one at the Steelers’ 21-yard line.
The Steelers’ defense bent but didn’t break as Peterson saved the day, stopping Meyers as he attempted a shallow route outside of bounds. The Raiders turned the ball over on downs at the 21-yard line, and with just 3:15 left, a snap infraction pushed them back to fourth and six.
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels called for a field goal attempt, but it made no difference as Darwin Leal used his hand, which is a penalty, to try to block the kick, causing the ball to fall short of the goalposts.
This gave the Steelers possession at the halfway line. Warren and Pickett then connected on a 32-yard catch-and-run, and Boswell had to be within range for a 57-yard field goal, which he made, extending the Steelers’
the score stood at 16-7 with 9 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Garoppolo took the field to start the second half, but after trying to improve in a second and 10 situation from midfield, he threw the ball straight to the Steelers. Trying to direct traffic after the interception, he did not throw the ball to any of his receivers, and with a sack from TJ Watt, the Raiders turned the ball over on downs at the Steelers’ 25-yard line.
The Steelers’ next drive started ominously as Pickett threw a pass straight into the arms of Marcus Peters. Fortunately for the Steelers, Peters was unable to stay in bounds. After punting for the second time, the first quarter ended in a 7-7 tie.
Adams started the Raiders’ next drive with a 17-yard gain in his lone carry, and Pickett threw all three of his passes for a touchdown. Finally, Freeirmuth caught a 13-yard touchdown pass, putting the visiting team ahead 23-7.
The Raiders responded with Jacoby Meyers and Adams starting to make gains, but Keion Benton halted their march with his first career sack. Then, Dillon Parham faced consecutive penalties, pushing Las Vegas back to their own 34-yard line.
The Raiders made a strong effort to come back in the fourth and fifth positions, but a breakup by Wallace thwarted their final attempt, and the Steelers regained possession on their 21-yard line.
The Steelers took just 2 minutes and 29 seconds before punting for the first time in three matches, and the Raiders began to pick up the pace with their next possession. Garoppolo completed three straight passes, and Jacobs ran for 15 yards on two runs, taking them inside the Pittsburgh 30-yard line.
Minkah Fitzpatrick got Garoppolo sacked on second and 10, but due to a pass interference penalty, the Raiders got a second life and Adams threw a touchdown pass. After another penalty, this time on Sullivan for pass interference, the Raiders converted the two-point attempt, making it a one-score game at 23-15 with 5:41 left to play.
The Steelers went three-and-out in just 50 seconds, and the Raiders got the ball back at their own 14-yard line with 4:35 remaining. Garoppolo completed passes to Adams for 12 yards to move forward, and then a short run by Jacobs set them up for fourth and one at the Steelers’ 21-yard line.
The Steelers’ defense bent but didn’t break as Peterson saved the day, stopping Meyers as he attempted a shallow route outside of bounds. The Raiders turned the ball over on downs at the 21-yard line, and with just 3:15 left, a snap infraction pushed them back to fourth and six.
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels called for a field goal attempt, but it made no difference as Darwin Leal used his hand, which is a penalty, to try to block the kick, causing the ball to fall short of the goalposts.
This gave the Steelers possession at the halfway line. Warren and Pickett then connected on a 32-yard catch-and-run, and Boswell had to be within range for a 57-yard field goal, which he made, extending the Steelers’ lead to 16-7 with 9:33 left in the third quarter.
