Pittsburgh Steelers vs Las Vegas Raiders Match Player Stats (October 13, 2024)
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats from October 13, 2024, tell the story of how ground game dominance and ball security propelled the Steelers to victory at Allegiant Stadium.
Table of Contents
Game Overview: Steelers 32, Raiders 13
Pittsburgh controlled the Week 6 matchup at Allegiant Stadium, where 62,553 fans watched what Fox Sports described as a decisive win for the road team.
Numbers that defined the game:
- Ball security: Steelers 0 turnovers, Raiders 3 turnovers
- Ground attack: Pittsburgh 183 rushing yards, Las Vegas 57
- Third-down success: Steelers 30.8%, Raiders 18.2%
This win continued Pittsburgh’s smash-mouth approach, similar to what they showed against the Baltimore Ravens earlier in the season.
Injury Impact
The Raiders played short-handed, missing several key weapons:
- Davante Adams (hamstring)
- Jakobi Meyers (ankle)
- Zamir White (groin)
- Christian Wilkins (IR)
For Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson was available for the first time this season, but Justin Fields got the start.
CBS Sports noted these absences “limited the Raiders’ schematic options” throughout the contest.
Tale of Two Drives
Las Vegas came out hot on their opening possession. O’Connell went a perfect 4-for-4 for 55 yards, with Mattison punching in a touchdown.
Then reality hit. After gaining 70 yards on that first drive, the Raiders managed just 55 yards over their next six possessions.
The Steelers’ D stiffened, with DeShon Elliott saying they simply needed to “remember who we are” after that initial drive.
Steelers’ Offensive Playmakers
QB Room
Justin Fields
- Passing: 14/24, 145 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
- Rushing: 11 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs
- Passer rating: 75.9
Fields played mistake-free football while using his legs to move the chains and find paydirt twice.
Ground and Pound
Najee Harris
- Rushing: 14 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
- YPC: 7.6 yards
- House call: 36-yard TD run
Harris finally broke the century mark, showing the burst Steelers fans had been waiting for all season.
Air Attack
George Pickens
- Receiving: 3 catches, 53 yards
- Targets: 8
- Longest grab: 31 yards
The passing game complemented the run rather than headlining the offensive gameplan.
Steel Curtain Defense
Pittsburgh’s defense locked things down after the opening drive:
T.J. Watt
- Forced fumbles: 2
- TFLs: 2
Cameron Heyward
- Sacks: 1
- Solo tackles: 3
Team Defense Stats
- Points allowed after first drive: 6
- Third-down stops: 9 of 11
- Takeaways: 3
The defense gave the offense short fields, with Pittsburgh scoring 14 points off turnovers.
Raiders’ Offensive Woes
QB Struggles
Aidan O’Connell
- Passing: 27/40, 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Passer rating: 79.9
O’Connell started hot but cooled quickly without his top targets to stretch the field.
No Ground Game
Alexander Mattison
- Rushing: 14 carries, 33 yards, 1 TD
- YPC: 2.4
- After first drive: Just 8 yards on 8 attempts
The Raiders’ run game disappeared, making them one-dimensional against an opportunistic Steelers D.
Rookie Standout
Brock Bowers
- Receiving: 9 catches, 71 yards
- Targets: 10
The rookie tight end became the go-to target and showed why he was a first-round pick.
Game-Changing Plays
Five key moments swung momentum Pittsburgh’s way:
- Laube’s fumble on his first NFL carry gave Pittsburgh the ball at the Vegas 30
- A roughing the passer flag against Butler extended a drive that ended with Fields scoring
- Moon’s blocked punt set up a Boswell field goal
- Abdullah’s goal-line fumble killed a Raiders scoring chance
- O’Connell’s fourth-quarter pick led to a Steelers TD that made it 29-7
These plays show how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL.
Special Teams Battle
Chris Boswell
- Field goals: Perfect 4/4 (52, 49, 37, 36 yards)
- Extra points: 2/3
- Total points: 14
Jeremiah Moon
- Blocked punt: 1 (led to FG)
Daniel Carlson
- Field goal attempts: 0
- Extra points: 1/2
Boswell was money from distance, while Moon’s blocked punt was the special teams highlight of the day.
By The Numbers
A side-by-side look at why Pittsburgh controlled this game:
| Stat | Steelers | Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 293 | 275 |
| Rushing | 183 | 57 |
| Passing | 110 | 218 |
| Yards/play | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| First downs | 18 | 16 |
| 3rd down | 4/13 (30.8%) | 2/11 (18.2%) |
| Time of possession | 31:51 | 28:09 |
The total yardage looks close, but the turnover battle and rushing dominance tell the real story.
Flags at the Worst Times
The Raiders had fewer penalties (4) than Pittsburgh (7), but threw flags at killer moments:
- An illegal man downfield wiped out a touchdown pass
- A defensive penalty erased Deablo’s interception
- Roughing the passer extended a Steelers drive that ended in points
Football isn’t just about how many penalties you get, but when you get them.
Future Outlook
Pittsburgh’s Blueprint
The Steelers showed their winning formula:
- Physical run game
- Zero giveaways
- Opportunistic defense
- Smart QB play
This approach mirrors what has worked against other AFC North teams like the Cincinnati Bengals throughout 2024.
Raiders’ Red Flags
Las Vegas showed concerning trends:
- No Plan B without star receivers
- Ball security issues (3 giveaways)
- Run defense leaks (183 yards allowed)
- Drive-killing penalties
The Raiders’ own analysis pointed to a troubling pattern of “failing to capitalize on momentum.”
Football Glossary
New to the game? Here’s a quick guide to terms used above:
YPC: Yards Per Carry – Average yards gained per rushing attempt.
TFL: Tackle For Loss – When a defender stops a ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage.
In the red zone: Inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, where scoring opportunities increase.
Pick: Interception – When a defender catches a pass intended for an offensive player.
House call: A touchdown, especially a long, explosive scoring play.
FAQs About Pittsburgh Steelers vs Las Vegas Raiders Match Player Stats
Who was the rushing leader in the Steelers-Raiders matchup?
Najee Harris dominated with 106 yards on 14 carries (7.6 YPC) and a touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game of 2024, while Raiders back Alexander Mattison managed just 33 yards on 14 attempts.
How did missing top receivers impact the Raiders’ offense?
Without Adams and Meyers, the Raiders leaned heavily on rookie Brock Bowers (9 catches, 71 yards) and backs coming out of the backfield. The offense lacked explosive plays and couldn’t sustain drives after their scripted opening possession.
What stats most influenced the final score?
The turnover battle (Steelers 0, Raiders 3), rushing disparity (Steelers 183, Raiders 57), and points off turnovers (Steelers 14, Raiders 0) proved decisive. Pittsburgh’s special teams also contributed 14 points through Boswell’s perfect field goal kicking.
Was Justin Fields effective despite modest passing numbers?
While Fields threw for just 145 yards, his dual-threat ability (59 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and ball security (0 turnovers) made him perfectly effective in Pittsburgh’s game plan. His 75.9 passer rating doesn’t reflect his overall impact.
Which defender most influenced the game?
T.J. Watt created havoc without recording a sack, forcing two fumbles and notching two TFLs. These takeaways directly led to Steelers points, showing how traditional stats don’t always capture a defender’s true impact.
The Pittsburgh Steelers vs Las Vegas Raiders match player stats reveal that fundamentals win football games: control the clock, protect the ball, and capitalize on opponent mistakes.
