Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Raiders Waste Chance to Improve Record in Mistake-Filled Loss to Steelers
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 month ago on
October 14, 2024

The Steelers beat the Raiders 32-13 on Sunday. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAS VEGAS — Raiders coach Antonio Pierce didn’t hesitate when asked if his team is any good right now.

“Our record is what it shows. We’re 2-4 — it’s not good enough,” Pierce said after Sunday’s 32-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. “We’re not coaching well enough, we’re not playing well enough and we’re not detailed well enough.

“More importantly, we’re gonna keep going back to it, when you turn the ball over, you don’t give yourself a chance.”

Missed Opportunity for Fresh Start

Las Vegas had a chance to even its record and possibly get a fresh start. Meantime, the Steelers arrived on a two-game skid after opening the season 3-0, have a brewing quarterback controversy between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson and have displayed one of the more inefficient offenses in the NFL.

But the Steelers were far superior to the Raiders.

Las Vegas’ effort was littered with mistakes, including three turnovers, four penalties and a blocked punt that gave the Steelers the ball on the Raiders 9-yard line in the third quarter.

“It starts with discipline,” Pierce said. “We have four penalties, but they were at critical moments. The turnover thing is embarrassing. We don’t respect the ball enough so we don’t even deserve a chance to put ourselves in a position to win.”

O’Connell’s Debut as Starter

Looking for a spark, Pierce handed the offense over to Aidan O’Connell, who backed up Gardner Minshew for the first five weeks.

O’Connell completed 27 of 40 passes for 227 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

One week after producing 330 yards of offense and turning the ball over three times at Denver, the Raiders mustered just 275 yards — only 57 on the ground. They scored on just 2 of 11 possessions.

“We can’t put our defense in a spot like that where we’re not running plays and we’re not on the field for very long,” O’Connell said. “We’re trying to do a better job of sustaining drives and obviously can’t turn the ball over as well, starting with myself. Just frustrating, some self-inflicted wounds.”

Defensive Struggles Continue

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders allowed Pittsburgh, which came in ranked 23rd on offense, to net 293 yards while scoring on seven of 10 possessions, not including its final drive that ended with kneel-downs.

The Steelers came in having scored on just 39.2% of their drives.

Last week, the Steelers’ longest play against Dallas was a 21-yard pass from Fields to George Pickens. On Sunday, Najee Harris tore through Las Vegas’ porous rushing defense for 106 yards on 14 carries (7.6 yards per carry), including a 36-yard touchdown run, while Fields finished 14 of 24 for 145 yards and 59 yards rushing with two touchdowns on the ground.

“I think defensively, I thought really good job in the first half tackling, and as the game went on, you saw it be a little bit more leaky,” Pierce said. “So again, really it’s work. We got to go back and get to work. It’s very cliche, but it’s true.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

DON'T MISS

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

DON'T MISS

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

DON'T MISS

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

DON'T MISS

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

DON'T MISS

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

DON'T MISS

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

DON'T MISS

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

DON'T MISS

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

DON'T MISS

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

UP NEXT

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

UP NEXT

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

UP NEXT

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

UP NEXT

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

UP NEXT

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

UP NEXT

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

UP NEXT

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

UP NEXT

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

UP NEXT

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

UP NEXT

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

56 minutes ago

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

2 hours ago

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

2 hours ago

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

3 hours ago

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

3 hours ago

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

3 hours ago

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

5 hours ago

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

5 hours ago

NBA Memo to Players Warns About Organized Home Break-Ins

5 hours ago

Fresno School Employees Say District’s Job Shifts Endanger Kids and Staff

5 hours ago

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

A Strathmore man was arrested Thursday after authorities say he threatened to kill students and staff at Strathmore Middle School, the Tular...

32 minutes ago

Jason Mitchell, 43, of Strathmore, was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill students and staff at Strathmore Middle School. (Tulare County SO)
32 minutes ago

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

39 minutes ago

Two Fresno, Clovis Trustee Races Remain Tight. Bond Measures Passing with Growing Margins

45 minutes ago

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

56 minutes ago

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

2 hours ago

DOGE Is a Promising Step Toward Federal Efficiency: Fareed Zakaria

2 hours ago

Listeria Outbreak Tied to Yu Shang Food Leaves California Infant Dead and 10 People Sick

3 hours ago

UN Expert: Myanmar’s Desperate Military Ramps Up Attacks Including Beheadings, Rapes and Torture

3 hours ago

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend