Scouting the Raiders: Steelers face rivals in regular season for 4th straight year

SCOUTING THE RAIDERS

Last meeting

Steelers beat Raiders, 23-18, on Sept. 24, 2023 in Las Vegas

Key matchup

Steelers OLB T.J. Watt vs. Raiders RT Thayer Munford

Rookie third-round pick D.J. Glaze has played most of the past three games at right tackle in place of Munford (knee/ankle), who is listed as questionable to return Sunday. Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce indicated Munford will return, but a matchup against Watt is less than ideal for a player who might be less than 100% and/or shaking off rust.

Key injuries

Raiders All-Pro receiver Davante Adams will miss a third consecutive game, as will tight end Michael Mayer. Five others join Munford listed as questionable on the injury report, including running back Zamir White, receiver Jakobi Meyers and rookie interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson.

The Steelers are without six players, including three of their top four who play outside linebacker in addition to safety Damontae Kazee and returner/running back Cordarrelle Patterson. Quarterback Russell Wilson was given a clean bill of health for the first time this season.

Series record

Raiders lead 17-15

Series notes

The teams have split six playoff meetings — but have not met in the postseason for 41 years. Five consecutive years between 1972-76 featured Steelers-Raiders postseason meetings, and then again in January 1984. … The Raiders have won 14 of 26 regular-season matchups. … Since the Raiders moved to Las Vegas, the Steelers have won two of three, including their first trip to the Sin City last year. The Raiders had won five of the final seven games against the Steelers while still based in Oakland. … Sunday marks the fourth consecutive season the Steelers and Raiders have played during the regular season. That’s the first time that’s happened. … The Steelers had lost four in a row when traveling to play the Raiders until last season’s victory at Allegiant Stadium.

Notable

The Raiders have alternated losses and wins each week this season. They lost 34-18 at the Denver Broncos last week. … The Steelers have averaged 18.4 points and 299.4 yards of offense per game; the Raiders are similar at 19.2 points per game and 297.0 yards per game. … The Steelers won three games in the Pacific Time Zone last season (at Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks) but before that had lost nine of 11 on the West Coast. … Robert Spillane by far leads the Raiders in tackles this season with 54, a year after he had 42 more tackles than any of his teammates (he had 148). That was his first season with Las Vegas after he’d spent the previous four years with the Steelers.

Fantasy tips

Raiders rookie Brock Bowers leads all NFL tight ends in receptions (28), targets (36) and receiving yards (313). … Four of the five Steelers’ receiving touchdowns this season are by tight ends — two by Pat Freiermuth and one each from Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington.