Steelers Scouting Report: The Las Vegas Raiders visit in NFL Week 16
Steel City Underground’s “Steelers Scouting Report” is a preview of each opponent Pittsburgh will face throughout the 2022-23 NFL regular season on a weekly basis, with analysis, injury news, and potential key matchups.
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL regular season at Acrisure Stadium. For a second week in a row, the Steelers will face an opponent with the same win-loss record. The atmosphere may be a bit tempered by the loss of Hall of Famer Franco Harris ahead of the game that will honor the 1972 meeting between these two teams that were part of the history surrounding the “Immaculate Reception” fifty years ago, however.
As Steelers fans and the organization remember Harris, they’ll also be hopeful for a home victory that would keep Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt. Ahead of the special game, we take a look at the Raiders and what they present as opponents in this scouting report.
Raiders offense
The hot player on the Las Vegas roster entering this game isn’t Derek Carr who finds himself on the hot seat; it’s running back Josh Jacobs. The offense is built around him despite the fact that the Raiders passed on picking up his fifth-year option. Head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler were initially retooling their offense to be a run-by-committee approach when they took over, but Jacobs has made a loud enough statement to earn the snaps.
Jacobs leads the NFL in rushing this season with 1,495 yards. The running back grabbed the league’s leading run (in yards) this season by rambling for 86 yards and a walk-off touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. The versatile back also has logged 46 receptions for 363 yards and 11 total touchdowns.
Sorry Henry, but Josh Jacobs is stilling "running" the NFL rush yrds show like a beast! 🏴☠️🏃🏿♂️💨#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/Ob5GgABaQT
— 🛡Capt.GraidrMando16 ☠️ (@CaptGalxyMndo16) December 20, 2022
The Steelers run defense has been tasked with shutting down some good run offenses in recent weeks, and scheming for Jacobs will be a challenge. Jacobs is dealing with an injured finger but no one is suggesting that will play a factor in how he’ll play or how the Steelers defense will play him.
“If we wanna win games, it comes down to stopping the run,” – Steelers DT Cameron Heyward
Coming back to Carr, this has not been a great year in the quarterback’s career. His completion percentage is around 61 percent while his passer rating has also declined. He has thrown 11 interceptions to 23 touchdowns. Carr has also struggled in the fourth quarter of games. He just hasn’t looked quite the same in 2022, and maybe some of his struggles are due to a myriad of rumors that have floated that he’s expendable to the organization.
That said, the Raiders have tight end Darren Waller back as well as receiver Hunter Renfro. Add in Davante Adams, with 1,275 yards receiving and 12 receiving touchdowns on the season and the game looks more interesting against a Steelers defense that enters the match allowing the ninth-most passing yards per game (238.8) to opponents.
Raiders defense
Due to allowing the ninth-most points per game to opponents this season, Las Vegas’ defense is on notice against a Pittsburgh team that expects to have rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett taking the snaps after missing Week 15 due to the concussion protocol.
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby presents a real threat to Pickett if the Steelers offensive line doesn’t continue its improved level of play on Saturday. Crosby has logged 11.5 of the 25 sacks Las Vegas has stacked together this season.
Opposite Crosby, Chandler Jones has 4.5 sacks and defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is third on the team with 1.5. Crosby, just named to the Pro Bowl, also leads the defense with 19 tackles for a loss and 29 quarterback hits.
The Raiders have only allowed opponents an average of 117.4 rushing yards this season, but gave up 206 to the New England Patriots. The dual threat of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren is a potent weapon the Steelers could lean on to settle the blitz and pressure Las Vegas may apply.
Diontae Johnson and George Pickens are likely to draw the main focus of the Raiders’ defensive secondary that has safety Duron Harmon dealing with a shoulder and neck injury and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin potentially unavailable due to a knee injury.
The Raiders are allowing opponents an average of 244.3 yards passing per game entering Week 16.
Raiders injury report
Participation/Injury Report, Week 16
Wednesday, December 21
- G Alex Bars (Knee) – LP
- T Jackson Barton (Back) – LP
- DT Andrew Billings (Fibula) – LP
- LB Darien Butler (Quadricep) – LP
- G/T Jermaine Eluemunor (Wrist) – FP
- S Duron Harmon (Shoulder/Neck) – LP
- G Dylan Parham (Knee) – LP
- RB Zamir White (Ankle) – LP
- CB Rock Ya-Sin (Knee) – DNP
Tuesday, December 20
*The Raiders did not practice Tuesday. Tuesday’s report is an estimate.
- G Alex Bars (Knee) – DNP
- T Jackson Barton (Back) – DNP
- DT Andrew Billings (Fibula) – LP
- LB Darien Butler (Quadricep) – LP
- G/T Jermaine Eluemunor (Wrist) – FP
- S Duron Harmon (Shoulder/Neck) – LP
- G Dylan Parham (Knee) – DNP
- RB Zamir White (Ankle) – DNP
- CB Rock Ya-Sin (Knee) – DNP
Statement from Steelers President Art Rooney II on the passing of Franco Harris: pic.twitter.com/5Ojd5Uatvr
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 21, 2022
