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Najee Harris, Steelers run over Raiders in Las Vegas: Key takeaways

·2 mins

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In NFL Week 6 action, the Pittsburgh Steelers dominated the Las Vegas Raiders with a 32-13 victory on the road. This marked the Steelers' first 30-point win of 2024, ending their two-game losing streak. Justin Fields, making his sixth consecutive start, excelled alongside Najee Harris, amassing 165 rushing yards and securing all three of Pittsburgh’s touchdowns on the ground.

The Raiders struggled after leading 12-7 at halftime, succumbing to turnovers and a blocked punt. New Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell faced difficulties, only shining in connection with rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who led with nine receptions and 71 receiving yards. 

The Raiders are set to visit the Los Angeles Rams next week, while the Steelers prepare for home games against the New York Jets and Giants. The Steelers’ defense excelled, with T.J. Watt causing crucial fumbles and Donte Jackson intercepting O’Connell, limiting the Raiders to 57 rushing yards and 13 total points.

O'Connell completed 67.5% of his passes, though often on short throws, ending with 227 passing yards and a late-game interception. Meanwhile, the Raiders' tackling issues persisted, with Harris and Fields exploiting gaps to generate significant rushing gains. The Raiders’ attempt to energize their offense with O'Connell in place of Gardner Minshew fell flat, highlighting lingering quarterback challenges.

For much of the game, Pittsburgh’s offense was inconsistent due to Fields’ passing inaccuracy, yet his running abilities, combined with Harris’ improved performance, proved pivotal. Harris' first 100-yard rushing game this season strongly contributed to the Steelers' ground-focused strategy.

On the receivers’ front, the Raiders, missing key players due to injury and trade discussions, struggled to make an impact. Alex Bachman led with limited yardage, while Kristian Wilkerson scored a late touchdown. The absence of top players like Adams, amidst trade speculations, also exacerbated the receiving woes.