5 Steelers surprises in Sunday’s win against the Raiders
Our SCU staff and contributors pick the “surprises” from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest matchup each week. Check out more below to see which plays and situations surprised us the most!
The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up their fourth win of the 2024 season with a 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Here are some surprises from that game.
Steelers Nation
As acknowledged first in his postgame presser, Mike Tomlin had this to say about the Steelers fans who traveled to Las Vegas:
I think the first thing that needs to be said, taken aback by the support we got from our fans, Steeler Nation. You know, continually, man, they show up. I just thought it was awesome; the environment for a road venue was special. It was special to be a part of.
For those who weren’t at the game but watched from home on television, the presence of Steelers Nation couldn’t go unnoticed, especially late in the game. We all know how well Steelers fans travel, but this could very well be the biggest “invasion” we’ve seen to date!
If you didn't know better, you would have thought this was @AcrisureStadium !!
This might be one of the biggest instances of @Steelers fans taking over a stadium and affecting a play pic.twitter.com/LXVjW7QTGC
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) October 14, 2024
30 Points
For the first time this season the Pittsburgh Steelers scored 30 or more points in a game, laying 32 on the Raiders.
A 30+ point game used to be a unicorn for this franchise, particularly under former offensive coordinator Matt Canada. The Steelers only had two games with 30+ points in 2023, both following Canada’s firing in Weeks 16 and 17. They only had one such game in both 2021 and and 2022 after topping 36+ four times back in the 2020 season.
To see this happen, with all offensive scores, was a pleasant surprise on Sunday.
Chris Boswell
Usually the man responsible for most of the Steelers scoring, Chris Boswell had a quiet evening from the recognition side of things but certainly deserves his flowers.
Boswell opened the scoring on Sunday with a 52-yard field goal, then added a 49-yarder early in the second quarter. The Steelers finally pulled ahead with a touchdown drive before halftime, and finished off other possessions leaving Boswell with two shorter opportunities that he converted from from 37 and 36 yards.
It’s worth noting that Boswell had 12 of the Steelers 32 points. Perhaps that’s not surprising on most weeks, but in this big win Boswell’s major contribution was a surprising afterthought.
Najee Harris
Another player who has been in a virtual slump, Harris topped 100 yards and scored a touchdown for the first time this season. He is the first, and only, player on the roster other than Justin Fields to have a rushing touchdown through six games.
It’s only Harris’ seventh 100+ yard rushing game in 57 career games. However, he ran with a purpose on Sunday, belittling the Raiders defense by pushing the pile and carrying defenders, while also diving for his lone score.
Harris would finish the day with 106 yards on 14 carries, a 7.6 average.
T.J. Watt
What else can be said of someone who is the second-fastest player to record 100 sacks in NFL history?
While Watt is often labeled for his edge rushing and sack specialization, he’s more than that, as demonstrated against Las Vegas. Watt failed to register a sack on Sunday, but forced not one, but two fumbles in the game, each at pivotal moments that gave the ball back to the Steelers offense.
Watt’s first forced fumble occurred on the Raiders 30-yard line with just over two minutes remaining before halftime. The subsequent drive led to the Steelers first touchdown and a go-ahead score they never looked back from.
Watt’s second forced fumble happened on the second play of the fourth quarter. Vegas ran the ninth play of their 74 yard, five-minute drive and faced a 3rd-and-goal from the Steelers one. Watt smacked the ball from Raiders RB Ameer Abdullah, which was recovered by DeShon Elliott.
The Steelers offense wouldn’t capitalize on the turnover, but was able to bring the ball out to midfield. A Corliss Waitman punt would back the Raiders up to their 13-yard line, with a Cameron Heyward sack and then a Donte Jackson interception wrecking Vegas’ next drive. Justin Fields would score on a one-yard run to put Pittsburgh up 29-13 and seal the deal, all stemming from Watt’s momentum-shifting play.
