5 bold predictions for Raiders against Steelers
By John Buhler
The Las Vegas Raiders will need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road to get to 2-0.
No team in the NFL got a more thrilling victory in Week 1 than Jon Gruden’s Las Vegas Raiders.
The Silver and Black won it, lost it and won it again in overtime on Monday Night Football vs. the Baltimore Ravens. While the Raiders are feeling great about themselves after beating Baltimore, the Ravens are dealing with the harsh reality of probably starting the year out 0-2. They have the Kansas City Chiefs next. As for the Raiders, they must take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2.
While Pittsburgh had another win that came down to the wire over the Buffalo Bills last week, here are five bold predictions on the Raiders’ side of things heading into this clash of AFC rivals.
Las Vegas Raiders: 5 bold predictions for Week 2 game at the Pittsburgh Steelers
5. Raiders will get their first interception of the season off Ben Roethlisberger
While only one interception was thrown on Monday Night Football, it was of the especially painful variety for the Silver and Black. Derek Carr had a ball tipped in the end zone that landed in the hands of Anthony Averett in overtime. Though the Raiders went on to win this primetime game, they will have to wait until Week 2 before potentially hauling in their first interception of the year.
The good news is the Steelers, and particularly starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, will turn the football over. Though Roethlisberger did not throw a pick in the Steelers’ Week 1 road victory over the Bills on Sunday, he was less than stellar under center. While he is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Big Ben is clearly running on fumes at this stage of his illustrious NFL career.
As to who will pick off Roethlisberger on Sunday, it remains to be seen. However, the Steelers are very much a pass-first offense because the ground game cannot be trusted. Even though Najee Harris may be the real deal, Pittsburgh would have to put a lot of faith in a rookie running back to flip the script on their offensive identity. The Steelers will throw and the Raiders best be ready.
If the Raiders want to get to 2-0, they need to win the turnover battle, and this is how to do that.