The Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers have met for 21 regular season games and six playoff match-ups and this rivalry is about as close as it can get. The Raiders lead the all-time regular season series, which began in 1970, 12-9. The teams have split the playoff meetings 3-3.
The Raiders won the first meeting October 25, 1970, in Oakland, 31-14. Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw threw 4 INTs, Raiders RB Hewritt Dixon rushed for 106 yards and Hall of Famer George Blanda threw 3 TD passes, 2 to TE Raymond Chester.
In 1972, Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh was a house of horrors for the Raiders. On opening day, September 17, the Raiders dropped a close one in Pittsburgh, 34-28, as 3 quarterbacks saw action for the Raiders, both teams threw 3 INTs each, and the Raiders erased a 27-7 3rd quarter deficit only to fall 6 points short. In the return engagement in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, Steelers RB Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception happened, 13-7 was the final score.
November 11, 1973, the Steelers got their first win in Oakland, 17-9. Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica threw for 236 yards but also tossed 4 INTs. The Raiders dominated statistically, but the 4 INTs were too much to overcome. The Raiders exacted revenge December 22 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs with a 33-14 thumping. QB Kenny Stabler went 14 of 17 for 142 yards, the Raiders picked Bradshaw 3 times, and Marv Hubbard ran for 91 yards and 2 TDs.
The Raiders recorded the first shut-out in the series September 29, 1974, en route to a 12-2 record. Neither team scored after halftime as the Raiders won 17-0 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers and Raiders met in the AFC Championship with the Steelers winning 24-13 and advancing to the Super Bowl.
On January 4, 1976, the Steelers earned a trip to the Super Bowl with a 16-10 win over the Raiders in Pittsburgh. The Steelers barely outgained the Raiders 332-321yards. Stabler and Bradshaw combined to throw 5 INTS. Leading 10-7, Bradshaw connected with WR John Stallworth for a 20-yard TD to put the game out of reach.
On opening day of the 1976 season, the Raiders dropped the Steelers 31-28 in Oakland. Stabler threw for 342 yards and 3 TDs. A Fred Steinfort 21-yard field goal gave the Raiders the win. The Raiders then hosted the Steelers in the AFC Championship game and dominated Pittsburgh 24-7 en route to the franchise's first Super Bowl title.
The next season, the Raiders traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the Steelers, 16-7, September 25, 1977. Errol Mann kicked 3 field goals, and the Raiders picked off Terry Bradshaw 3 times.
In 1980, the Raiders won a Monday Night Football thriller October 20 in Pittsburgh, 45-34. Jim Plunkett threw for 247 yards and 3 TDs in this see-saw battle. The Raiders would go on to win the Super Bowl.
In 1981, the Raiders won another nip and tuck game against the Steelers, 30-27, December 7 in Oakland. Marc Wilson threw for 275 yards and 2 TDs, and Kenny King ran for 102 yards on just 11 carries. Ted Watts returned a punt for a TD for the Raiders.
The first meeting in Los Angeles for these teams came on New Year's Day 1984. The Raiders topped the Steelers 38-10 in an AFC Divisional Playoff en route to a third Super Bowl title. Marcus Allen ran for 121 yards and 2 TDs.
The Steelers and Raiders met in Los Angeles for the second time December 16, 1984, as the Steelers topped the defending Super Bowl Champs, 13-7 as a Raiders 4th quarter rally fell short. Walter Abercrombie paced the Steelers with 111 yards on the ground and Marcus Allen was held to 38 yards rushing.
The Raiders dominated the next meeting, also in LA, 20-3, September 23, 1990. WR Mervyn Fernandez caught 5 passes for 130 yards including a 66-yard TD strike from QB Jay Schroeder.
Four years later, the Steelers traveled to LA and dropped the Raiders 21-3, on November 27. The Steelers outgained the Raiders 306-179 in this one.
The series returned to Oakland in 1995 and the Steelers won 29-10, on December 10. The Steelers picked off QB Billy Joe Hobert 4 times. However, the Steelers have not won in Oakland since.
The Steelers won the final meeting at Three Rivers Stadium, 21-20, on December 3, 2000. QB Rich Gannon threw for 273 yards in a losing effort. WR Tim Brown caught 7 passes for 99 yards.
The Raiders took it to the Steelers in their first appearance at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, 30-17, on September 15, 2002, in a Prime Time match-up. Gannon threw for 403 yards and RB Terry Kirby returned a kickoff for a touchdown. WR Jerry Rice caught 11 passes for 94 yards.
The Raiders fell to the Steelers 27-7 on December 7, 2003. The Raiders jumped out to a 7-0 lead but 2 QB Rick Mirer interceptions and RB Jerome Bettis' 106 yards on the ground were too much to overcome.
On opening day the next season, September 12, 2004, the Steelers held off a Raiders rally and won 24-21. K Jeff Reed hit a game-winning 42-yard field goal. Gannon threw for 305 yards and 2 TDs.
In 2006, the Raiders hosted the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers and defeated them, 20-13, on October 29. CB Chris Carr returned an interception for 100 yards and a score to spark the win. The Raiders recorded a total of 4 INTs on the day.
On December 6, 2009, the Raiders traveled to Pittsburgh and defeated the Steelers 27-24 in a storybook thriller. Pittsburgh-native Bruce Gradkowski tossed 3 TD passes in the 4th quarter, including the game-winner to WR Louis Murphy in the waning seconds.
The next meeting – in Pittsburgh – was dominated by the Steelers, 35-3, on November 21, 2010. Gradkowski couldn't duplicate the previous year's magic as he came off the bench and threw for 98 yards and an INT in relief of Jason Campbell. Ben Roethlisberger tossed 3 TD passes for the Steelers.
The Steelers traveled to Oakland last year on September 23, 2012, and the two long-time rivals did not disappoint. The Raiders defeated the Steelers on a last-second, 43-yard, K Sebastian Janikowski field goal. RB Darren McFadden rushed for 113 yards including a 64-yard TD run.
The Raiders defeated the Steelers 21-18 in 2013 Regular Season Week 8 action. QB Terrelle Pryor set a Raiders team record with a 93-yard TD run. McFadden added 2 TD runs.
