Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sun Sep 24, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Raiders attempted comeback in the fourth quarter fell short losing to the Steelers 23-18 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Las Vegas had a scoreless second and third quarter which spelled the difference in this game.

The Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) welcomed the Pittsburg Steelers (1-1) to Allegiant Stadium in a Sunday Night Football clash. Last week the Raiders were blitzed by the Buffalo Bills 38-10. The Steelers got past the Cleveland Browns winning the game in the fourth quarter 26-22.

The Raiders were first up on the scoreboard but that would be all that Las Vegas could manage going into the fourth quarter. In the opening quarter Jimmy Garoppolo found Davante Adams for 32 yards, the touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

It all went downhill from there. The Steelers also had one touchdown in the first quarter to tie up the game and it was a huge play, a 72 yard pass from Kenny Pickett to Calvin Austin.

Neither team could break the tie until 8:33 in the second quarter. The flow of this game was about to change. Pittsburg would kick two field goals in the quarter. Kicker Chris Boswell made a 43 yard field goal mid-way through the quarter and a 42- yard kick to end the first half. The Steelers took a 13-7 lead into the locker room after two quarters.

As the third quarter got underway the Raiders were still very much in this game. They were one touchdown away from taking the lead. The Steelers kicker Chris Boswell kicked a third field goal at 9:28 for 57 yards.

Pittsburg took a 16-7 lead but the Raiders were still within striking distance. With 3:56 left in the third quarter the game really took a turn when the Steelers scored their second touchdown of the game. With Pittsburg now leading by the score of 23-7, the Raiders had one quarter left to try to turn this game around.

The fourth quarter was a rough one for Jimmy Garoppolo getting sacked a couple of times but putting together a great drive that culminated in a one yard pass to Davante Adams for the touchdown. The Raiders made a two point conversion and it was a one score game 23-15 with 5:41 left on the game clock.

The Raiders held tight and sent the Steeler offense off the field three and out with 4:35 to go in the game. Las Vegas drove down to the Steeler eight yard line with 2.35 left in the game in a real nail-biter. The Raiders could not score the touchdown and had to settle for the field goal a 26 yard Daniel Carlson kick cutting the Steeler lead to 23-18.

Had the Raiders scored the touchdown, they could have tied up this game. There was 2:22 on the clock remaining and the Raiders had to go three and out. Las Vegas could not hold the Steelers and with one time out left and two minutes left in the game it was all but over.

The Steelers ended this game with their third interception of the evening with 12 seconds on the clock. The Raiders came so close in this game but it was the lack of offense in the second and third quarters that really hurt them.

Jimmy Garoppolo had a great second half finishing with 324 passing yards but also had three interceptions. The Raiders had 69 rushing yards, 62 of them from Josh Jacobs. Davante Adams had 13 catches for 172 yards.

Next Sunday Oct 1st the Raiders will travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers. San Diego will come into this game on a high after beating the Minnesota Vikings keeping them winless. Charger quarterback Justin Herbert had a banner day throwing for 405 yards. Kickoff for next weeks game is scheduled for 1:05 PM.