The Steelers coughed up a ten point fourth quarter lead and dropped their second game of the season 34-31 to Oakland. The Raiders outscored the Steelers 13-0 in the Fourth Quarter capped by Sebastian Janikowski’s 43-yard field goal with no time left for the win.
It was an awful game for the defense that looked slow and tired throughout the fourth quarter. The Steelers had no pressure up front, and the secondary was leaky the entire game because of it. The defense also was horrendous against the run, getting gashed for a huge gain by Darren McFadden to tie the score in the first. McFadden finished with 113 yards. The Raiders put up 34 points while only holding the ball for less than 24 minutes.
The Steelers made several costly mistakes including two back breaking fumbles. Antonio Brown had one of those days that young players sometimes have. He had two fumbles, one that basically put Oakland back in the game. Jonathon Dwyer also had a terrible fumble that allowed Oakland to tie the score right before the half.
The Special Teams allowed Mike Goodson to go 54 yards and had a TD called back. They were El Stinko for the first time this season.
Ben Roethlisberger and Heath Miller both had tremendous games, as Roethlisberger racked up 384 yards and threw four TD’s including two to Miller who is having the breakout season we predicted! Mike Wallace also had eight catches and ten different Steelers caught passes. That was the only bright spot of a very dismal day.
The running game still has not taken off. The leading rusher for the Steelers was Ike Redman but he only banged out 27 yards. The Steelers rushed for 54 yards on 20 carries. The rushing statistics have decreased with each game and have gotten worse every, single week. They need to be more consistent and the offensive line needs to open us some holes.
The defense just hasn’t found its groove yet. The Steelers actually went for it on their side of the field because Coach Tomlin didn’t have the confidence in them to stop the Raiders. That is downright disturbing!
The Steelers badly need Silverback and Troy back ASAP.
BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!
My “GAME BEER” goes to: Ben Roethlisberger, It was a great performance and he was nearly flawless! He could have won the Game Beer any of the first three weeks and this week we can’t overlook what Ben has done! Also considered; Heath Miller for his two TD catches, as well as WALLACE who had a great game.
Where I watched the game: At a bar called the Stadium in Saratoga. I also had to do business during the game, as several of my clients came to check in on me. The Steeler turnout at the bar was lousy with no Steelers section. I sat with Eagles fans that were in their own version of Hell, and my friend Steve Hubbard who is a Raiders fan. I also met a Bay Area native who rejoined Raider nation named Todd! I was drinking “Saratoga” Beer and the food and service were outstanding. The game itself was not.
My Stat of the week: This is a bad one, I am afraid. The Raiders rushed 21 times for 119 yards! That is just awful and the front seven had one of the worst games I have seen in a long time.
My thoughts on Next Week: Not sure what to expect right now. The Eagles looked awful Sunday, but so did the Raiders the week before. Look for a SLUGFEST in the battle of PA with the Steelers squeaking it out.