Skip to main content
Raiders
Advertising

By the Numbers: Costly miscues play deciding factor in Raiders' Week 6 defeat

The Silver and Black got off to a quick start on offense but crucial penalties and turnovers resulted in a 32-13 loss to Pittsburgh.

Here are some key takeaways and metrics from Sunday's game.

Maintaining Momentum

For the second straight week, the Raiders started the game exactly how they wanted on offense.

Aidan O'Connell went 4-of-4 for 45 yards on the opening drive with Alexander Mattison finishing things off with a three-yard touchdown run, his fourth total touchdown of the season. Brock Bowers also had another impressive showing, as the rookie tight end led the team in catches (nine) and receiving yards (71) for a second straight game. He currently leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (37) and receiving yards (384) this season.

However, the offense went 2-of-11 on third down and didn't cross midfield again until under four minutes remained in the third quarter. The Steelers entered the game with the league's fifth-best rushing defense (91.2 yards per game) and limited the Raiders to just 57 yards on the ground.

"Obviously we've been emphasizing we wanted to come out fast, and we did that," quarterback Aidan O'Connell said after the game. "It was a great first drive to come out and get points and a touchdown specifically. It was huge for momentum, but like I said, it takes 60 minutes. Obviously there's going to be good drives, drives that aren't as good, but you just try to maintain and sustain that momentum, and I don't think we did that very well."

Over the past two games, the Raiders have outscored their opponents 17-3 in the first quarter, but have been outscored 39-0 over the second and third quarters.

"Having that script, getting guys comfortable, especially the quarterbacks and receivers knowing what's coming, what to expect. You can walk through that 1000 times," Head Coach Antonio Pierce said Monday morning. "And the good thing is, we put it on paper. What we're struggling with right now is in the second quarter, right? Something's going on late in the second quarter, either turnover or bad play on defense, and we're not going into the half the way we want to."

Giveaways and Takeaways

The turnover monster reared its ugly head again on Sunday as the Raiders finished the game with two fumbles and an interception, in addition to a blocked punt.

One of the fumbles occurred on a rush attempt from the Steelers' one-yard line while the interception was followed by a Justin Fields rushing touchdown on the very next play. It was the third game this season (Chargers, Broncos and Steelers) in which the Raiders finished with a turnover margin of minus-3. Historically, this has not been a recipe for success.

The Raiders have zero defensive takeaways and a combined turnover margin of minus-10 in four losses. In both of the Raiders' wins, the defense has recorded a takeaway and the team has finished with an even turnover margin. Since the start of last season, the Silver and Black are 9-3 in games with a defensive takeaway.

It's also worth noting that since 2022, teams are 5-95 in games in which they finish with a turnover margin of minus-3 or worse.

"Critical between the penalties, the turnovers, an assignment error here, missed tackle there. I mean, that's what it came down to," Pierce said. "I think there's a lot of opportunities that if those plays didn't happen, the ball goes and bounces our way, but that wasn't the case, right? So, turnovers again bit us in the butt. Four penalties, but they were critical, in critical moments and took points off the board. Turnovers as well."

Team/Individual Metrics and Milestones

The Raiders defense continues to be one of the league's best on third down.

The unit limited Pittsburgh to 4-of-13 (30.8%) on Sunday, making it the ninth straight game that the Raiders' opponent has converted under 50.0 percent of their 3rd-down attempts. The nine-game streak is tied for the second longest active streak in the NFL - only behind Cleveland (23). The Silver and Black (30.1 percent) trail only Miami (25.5 percent) and Detroit (29.6 percent) in opponent's third-down conversion rate this season.

Additionally, after failing to record more than two sacks in each of the first three games, the Raiders have now tallied three sacks in three consecutive games. The team's nine sacks over the past three weeks are tied for the sixth most in the NFL. Maxx Crosby finished the game with three tackles (two solo), 0.5 sack, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits – now tied for the third most career sacks in franchise history (Anthony Smith, 57.5).

Safety Tre’von Moehrig recorded a career-high-tying 10 total tackles (eight solo) and added three tackles for loss. His three tackles for loss are a single-game career high and are tied for the most by a safety in Raiders history. This was just the fourth time in Raiders history that a safety recorded three tackles for loss - the first time since 2014 (Charles Woodson, 3; 11/20/14 vs. KC).

Linebacker Divine Deablo totaled 1.0 sack, two tackles for loss and six total tackles in his return after missing the last three games due to injury.

"I thought Tre'Von Moehrig did a hell of a job by the line scrimmage," Pierce said. "Some pressures that he brought really helped us there. Deablo looked lightning fast, and that was good to see with him. He flashed. So, really, really pleased with what we did as far as rushing the passer in our passing game."

View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium.

Related Content

Latest Content

Advertising