LAS VEGAS — Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce did not shy away from expressing his feelings about the team’s performance, especially after the recent defeat. “Our record reflects our performance. We sit at 2-4, and that’s simply not good enough,” he commented following the team’s 32-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Our coaching, our playing, and our attention to detail are all lacking right now.”
He emphasized the critical issue of turnovers, stating, “When you give the ball away, you significantly hinder your chances of success.” Las Vegas had an opportunity to turn their season around against the Steelers, who were reeling from two consecutive losses after a strong 3-0 start and were grappling with a quarterback dilemma involving Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Despite these challenges, the Steelers demonstrated a clear superiority over the Raiders.
The effort from Las Vegas was marred by errors, including three turnovers, four penalties, and a blocked punt that allowed Pittsburgh to start their drive at the Raiders’ 9-yard line in the third quarter. Pierce spoke about the importance of discipline, noting, “With four penalties, many of which came at decisive moments, our turnover rate is simply unacceptable. We show a lack of respect for the ball, and because of that, we can’t deserve the opportunity to win.”
In search of a spark, Pierce entrusted the offense to Aidan O’Connell, who had served as the backup to Gardner Minshew during the first five weeks of the season. O’Connell managed to complete 27 of 40 attempts, accumulating 227 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. After a lackluster week against Denver where they managed 330 yards but were once again plagued by mistakes, the Raiders managed only 275 total yards against the Steelers, with a mere 57 coming from the ground game. Unfortunately, they converted on just 2 of their 11 opportunities.
“We can’t place our defense in unfavorable situations by failing to sustain drives and keeping them off the field for too long,” O’Connell said. “Turning the ball over is something we need to rectify—it starts with me. It’s just frustrating due to our self-inflicted problems.”
Defensively, the Raiders struggled to contain Pittsburgh, even though the Steelers had entered the game ranked 23rd in offensive production. Las Vegas allowed 293 total yards and the Steelers scored on seven of their ten opportunities, excluding their final possession where they merely ran down the clock.
Last week, the Steelers’ most significant gain against the Cowboys was a 21-yard completion, but Las Vegas’ defensive line could not withstand Najee Harris, who rushed for 106 yards on 14 carries, averaging an impressive 7.6 yards per attempt and sealing the game with a 36-yard touchdown run. Fields also contributed, passing for 145 yards while adding 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
“From a defensive standpoint, we had a decent first half in terms of tackling, but as the game progressed, we became more vulnerable,” Pierce analyzed. “Ultimately, it comes down to effort and we need to get back to work. I know it sounds cliché, but it holds true.”