Week 16: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Las Vegas Raiders game recap and analysis

The Pittsburgh Steelers faced off against the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Both teams entered the game with records of 6-8, looking to secure a win and improve their chances of making the playoffs. In the end, it was the Steelers who came out on top with a final score of 13-10.

Both teams put on a show defensively, with a combined total of only 23 points scored. The Raiders got off to a strong start, with quarterback Derek Carr throwing for 174 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

However, Pittsburgh responded in the second half, with quarterback Kenny Pickett throwing for 244 yards and a touchdown.

Steelers get a win at home

Quarterback Kenny Pickett

The black and gold strung together a crucial 76-yard drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to score the go-ahead touchdown with less than a minute remaining.

Las Vegas had a chance to come back and tie the game with a field goal, however Carr's throw was his third interception of the night, which proved to be his most costly one, and Pittsburgh was able to run out the clock, stealing the game.

Running back Najee Harris played a key role in the Steelers' victory, rushing for 53 yards and catching six passes for 42 yards. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson also had a solid game for Pittsburgh, catching five passes for 64 yards.

For Las Vegas, wide receiver Darren Waller led the way with four catches for 58 yards. Running back Josh Jacobs added 44 rushing yards. Hunter Renfrow had the only touchdown reception for the Silver and Black and finished with 44 receiving yards.

Derek Carr and his teammates

On the defensive side, Cameron Heyward recorded two sacks, while Alex Highsmith had one sack. Although the Raiders defense did not have any sacks in the game, they out-tackled their opponent 75 to 58.

In the end, it was the Steelers' ability to convert on fourth-downs and score touchdowns in the red zone that proved to be the difference. Pittsburgh went 2-for-2 on fourth-down conversions. The Raiders, on the other hand, did not attempt a fourth-down conversion, despite having multiple opportunities to do so.

Pittsburgh's victory keeps their playoff hopes alive as they move to 7-8 on the season. Las Vegas, meanwhile, fall to 6-9 and are virtually eliminated from the playoff race.

Looking foward, the two teams will each have an interesting Week 17 game. The Raiders will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas, while the Steelers will travel to Baltimore to battle the Ravens.