The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Oakland Raiders 35-3 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in 2010 NFL Regular Season Week 11 action. QB Bruce Gradkowski relieved Jason Campbell at quarterback in the third quarter but Gradkowski was unable to rally the Silver and Black.
The Steelers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. The Steelers started their first possession at their own 23 after the kickoff return. The Raiders held the Steelers to a three-and-out and took over at their own 28 after a punt and a fair catch. K Sebastian Janikowski got the Raiders on the board when his 41-yard field goal capped a 7-play, 49-yard drive and gave the Silver and Black a 3-0 with 9:50 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders held the Steelers to another three-and-out and Nick Miller was dropped at the Raiders 11 after fielding the P Daniel Sepulveda punt. The Raiders picked up one first down but were unable to sustain the drive. Pittsburgh began their next possession at their own 15 after a short return of a P Shane Lechler 54-yard punt.
Pittsburgh took the lead when RB Rashard Mendenhall cashed in on a 5-yard touchdown run to culminate a 14-play, 85-yard drive. The extra point was good and the Steelers led 7-3 with 13:29 left in the second quarter.
WR Jacoby Ford returned the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 25. The Steelers defense held the Raiders to a three-and-out. A holding penalty wiped out a punt return for a touchdown and the Steelers took possession at their own 24.
Pittsburgh drove out to midfield before the Raiders forced a Sepulveda punt which Nick Miller fielded at the Raiders 10. After no return, the Raiders offense took the field with 8:35 left in the second quarter. The Steelers held the Raiders to a three and out and WR Antonio Brown returned a Lechler 48-yard punt to the Pittsburgh 44.
The Steelers increased their lead to 14-3 when QB Ben Roethlisberger capped a 7-play, 56-yard drive with a 16-yard scramble for a touchdown and K Shaun Suisham added the extra point.
Ford's kickoff return was wiped out by a penalty and the Raiders started their next drive at their own 10. The Steelers got the ball back at the Raiders 35 when they recovered an Oakland fumble. WR Emmanuel Sanders caught a TD pass and the extra point gave the Steelers a 21-3 lead with 1:26 left in the second quarter.
Ford returned the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 23. The Steelers forced a three and out and Lechler came on to punt. The punt return was wiped out by a penalty and the half came to a close. The Steelers took a 21-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Ford returned the opening kickoff of the second half to the Raiders 26. The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and the Steelers offense took the field for their first offensive possession of the second half at their own 28. The Raiders forced a three and out and Sepulveda's punt was returned by Nick Miller to the Raiders 27.
The Steelers were unable to capitalize and Nick Miller called for and made a fair catch of a punt at the Raiders 5. The Raiders were unable to mount a drive and Lechler's punt was returned to the Oakland 33.
The Raiders defense held and forced a Sepulveda punt. The 39-yard punt bounced into the end zone for a touchback. Bruce Gradkowski entered the game at quarterback. The Raiders drove into Steelers territory but S Troy Polamalu picked off a pass and returned it to the Steelers 46.
Two plays later, WR Mike Wallace hauled in a 52-yard TD pass. The extra point was good, and Pittsburgh led 28-3 with 14:49 left in the fourth quarter.
Nick Miller returned the ensuing kickoff to the Raiders 20. After picking up a first down, the Raiders were forced to punt. Lechler's kick was fair caught at the Steelers 14. After allowing a first down, the Raiders defense forced a punt. Nick Miller returned the kick to the Oakland 16. The Raiders picked up one forst down before the Steelers forced a punt. The home team took over at their own 17 after the boot and the return.
The Raiders got the ball back when Mendhenhall fumbled and LB Quentin Groves recovered at the Oakland 24. The Silver and Black failed to convert on 4th and 3 and the Steelers took over on downs at the Raiders 41. The Steelers added to their lead with a screen pass for a touchdown with 1:12 left to play to make the score 35-3.
The Raiders fall to 5-5 on the season and head back to Oakland to face the Miami Dolphins in 2010 Regular Season Week 12 action.
