LAS VEGAS — The Steelers entered Sunday’s game with a depleted outside linebacker group. Three of their top four outside linebackers missed the game due to injuries, and three players who weren’t with the Steelers last season dressed as their replacements.
Jeremiah Moon played his second game with the Steelers, while Ade Ogundeji and Eku Leota made their Steelers debuts. Luckily, the Steelers still had T.J. Watt, who wrecked the game despite not having a sack.
Watt’s two forced fumbles were two of the biggest plays in the Steelers’ 32-13 victory over the Raiders. The first turnover set up the first Steelers’ touchdown of the game just before halftime, while the second stopped the Raiders at the 1-yard line when they were poised to make it a one-score game early in the fourth quarter.
“That’s what special players like him do,” inside linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “Yeah, he’s not getting his sacks, but he’s still making explosive plays for the team. I’d rather have a fumble than a sack any day. Those were massive. Defense is about giving the ball back to the offense.
“He’s a team guy. That’s why he’s the captain. One thing about our captains, you saw the drive when T.J. and Cam [Heyward] just took over. It was just them two. We were just getting the call, and they were just making plays. That’s what captains do. That’s what leaders do. It feels good to have that type of leadership on this defense. You understand why they hold that title.”
The Steelers produced three more turnovers on Sunday, giving the defense 11 for the season, which is tied for fifth-most in the league.
“I can't say enough about T.J. that hadn't already been said in terms of his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “It is special. Not surprised by it, but it's still special.
“If you've been around him during the course of his career here, you just know that he's going to seize those moments. He's going to rise up and be what we need him to be in some form or fashion. I think today was just a reflection of it. It's just another chapter in his awesome story that is his career.”
Frazier injures ankle
The Steelers suffered yet another injury to their offensive line when rookie center Zach Frazier suffered an ankle injury in the second half and did not return.
The Steelers have lost three offensive linemen for the season, and they cannot afford to lose Frazier, who is playing as well as any rookie offensive lineman in the league.
Ryan McCollum played just one snap before Sunday, but he filled in for Frazier the rest of the game.
“Hopefully it’s nothing serious, but regardless, we have a deep group,” left tackle Dan Moore said. “Obviously, Ryan came in, and he was more than capable. We didn’t miss a beat.”
If Frazier cannot return for next Sunday’s game against the Jets, McCollum would have to make his second NFL start. He started one game for the Lions in 2021.
Extra points
Jeremiah Moon blocked his first career punt. It’s the third blocked punt for the Steelers since the beginning of the 2023 season, which is the most in the NFL in that span. ... Watt now has 29 forced fumbles in his career. That’s the second-most in franchise history and the third-most of any active player in the league. ... Cam Heyward played in his 200th regular season game. That’s the fifth-most in franchise history behind Donnie Shell, Mel Blount, Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and Mike Webster. ... Rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson dressed for his first game, but it was uneventful. He was not targeted in a limited number of snaps.
First Published: October 14, 2024, 1:23 a.m.
