Las Vegas Raiders (1-2) – Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1): 18-23
Jimmy Garoppolo (28/44, 324 yards, 2 TDs, 3 int), like many others before him, risks having nightmares involving TJ Watt. The former Defensive Player of the Year harassed him all night, with 2 sacks, 6 quarterback hits and 6 pressures. An omnipresence which made life easier for the entire Steelers defense, notably causing three interceptions.
The Raiders weren’t helped by their coach either. While Jimmy Garoppolo found Davante Adams (13 rec, 172 yards, 2 TDs) to pick up eight lengths in the last quarter, Vegas held on in defense to have a chance to equalize. But on 4th & 4 on the opposing 8 yards, with only 2mn22 to play, Josh McDaniels chooses to… kick a field goal. It’s successful (18-23), but Vegas only gets the ball back with 7 seconds left, and Garoppolo’s desperate pass is intercepted.
The Steelers offense wakes up a little
Laborious since the start of the season, the squad led by Kenny Pickett (16/28, 235 yards, 2 TDs) did not start any better, with two punts to start, while Garoppolo and Adams opened the scoring (7- 0). But Pittsburgh ended up breaking free on a 72-yard connection between Pickett and Calvin Austin (2 rec, 72 yards, 1 TD) for the equalizer (7-7).
Nothing to get excited about, since the feat is followed by a punt. But the defense begins to disgust Josh Jacobs (17 races, 62 yards) and Garoppolo, who end the half with three punts and an interception. Pittsburgh managed to place two field goals to return to the locker room with a 13-7 advantage.
The atmosphere remains the same after the break. Pittsburgh widens the gap (7-16) while the Raiders block (punt, interception, failure on 4th attempt). Pat Freiermuth scores a 13-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter for what looks like a knockout.
The Raiders wake up too late
Garoppolo and Adams lead an offensive to maintain hope with a touchdown accompanied by a two-point conversion (15-23) with 5:41 to play. And the defense shuts down Pittsburgh in barely a minute. There are therefore 4mn35 left to reach the eight points of the equalizer.
This is where McDaniels will be far too cautious, with a field goal (18-23), and let Pittsburgh eat up almost the entire rest of the clock. Too soft against a team as well coached and solid in defense as the Steelers.
The last black point of the evening, Jimmy Garoppolo was evaluated for a potential concussion after the match. The results of the exams should be known in the coming hours.
