Las Vegas (1-0) at Pittsburgh (1-0)
When: Sunday, September 19th, 2021
Where: Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 1:00 ET | TV: CBS
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -5/49.5
The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off a big win on Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens and hope to keep that momentum going against another AFC North opponent on Sunday. The Raiders travel East to Pittsburgh to take on the 1-0 Steelers in Week 2 action. The Raiders were 4-point underdogs when pulling off the incredible overtime victory against the Ravens and will come into this contest as 6-point dogs. Las Vegas rolled up 491 yards and 26 first downs against a Baltimore team known for good defense. The Steelers allowed just one touchdown in their 23-16 road win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Pittsburgh was almost a touchdown underdog and started off slow before pulling away in the second half.
The Raiders are 5-2 against Pittsburgh dating back to 2006, with the past three of those wins being decided by three points or less. In 2018, the Oakland Raiders were 10.5-point underdogs at home before pulling off a 24-21 upset. Both Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr had solid games in that one and will be starting against each other on Sunday. The Raiders have covered each of the last four. The Steelers are 7-1 SU in their last eight home games, while the Raiders are on a 7-3 SU run on the road.
Carr was fantastic in the Raiders’ season-opening 33-27 overtime win Monday night by completing 34-of-56 passes for 435 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target was Darren Waller, who caught 10 passes for 105 yards and a score. Waller could be a problem for a Pittsburgh defense that allowed Buffalo tight end Dawson Knox to come up with 41 receiving yards on just four catches. The Raiders defense deserves some credit as they held Lamar Jackson in check on Monday and pressured him all night. Maxx Crosby (2 sacks), Yannick Ngakoue, and Carl Nassib all came up with big defensive plays for the Raiders, who are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games as an underdog on the road. Crosby’s effort earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
The Steelers didn’t look that great on offense in their opener but the defense couldn’t have performed any better. Ben Roethlisberger threw for only 188 yards and a touchdown and their run game didn’t perform either. The team combined for just 74 rushing yards on 21 carries. The good news for the Steelers is that the Raiders defense still lets up a lot of yards, so running the ball should be easier than it was last week in Buffalo. Pittsburgh’s defense held the Bills to just six points in the second half in Week 1. T.J. Watt, who signed a four-year, $112 million extension just days before the start of the season, recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. The strip-sack of Buffalo’s Josh Allen was Watt’s 18th career forced fumble in just 63 regular-season games. Steelers linebacker Robert Spillane (shin) could miss his second straight game.
I think this will be an easy win for the Steelers here. It’s a bad spot for Las Vegas after their emotional overtime win on Monday night. The Pittsburgh defense was terrific last week and should give Carr some problems. The Steelers offense will find life a little easier than they did last week as well. I’ll lay the points.
Pick: Steelers -6
Week 2 Staff Selections
