The Raiders’ season hasn’t been much fun, but Oakland’s victory over the Steelers Sunday left silver-and-black clad players dancing and celebrating on the O.co Coliseum turf.
For one day, at least, professional football was enjoyable again in Oakland.
The Raiders had to fight back for the 24-21 victory that now gives them a 3-10 record.
Trailing 14-10 entering the fourth quarter, the Raiders drove for two touchdowns to take the lead. Derek Carr’s 3-yard pass to Lee Smith produced the first score. The Steelers answered with a TD of their own, on Ben Roethlisberger’s 1-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Carr drove his team 75 yards in eight plays, culminating with a 6-yard scoring toss to tight end Derek Carrier to take the 24-21 lead with just 25 seconds remaining in the game.
Still, however, the Steelers weren’t dead. After receiving the kickoff, Pittsburgh had time to run one play from scrimmage, and it picked up 48 yards, 43 coming on a lateral to Smith-Schuster – who ran out of bounds to stop the clock – after James Washington caught Roethlisberger’s 5-yard pass.
That set up Chris Boswell for a 40-yard field-goal attempt with five seconds left – for a tie to send it to overtime. But Boswell slipped, the kick was blocked and the victory saved.
Carr, who’s been having a strong second half of this season, had another good game Sunday, completing 25-of-34 throws for 322 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. His No. 1 target was tight end Jared Cook, with seven catches for 116 yards.
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On defense, linebacker Tahir Whitehead was in on 10 tackles and had an interception.
The Raiders will try to keep it going this coming Sunday, when they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals.
