Najee Harris bolted down the left sideline, dodging defenders as he neared the 5-yard line before launching himself toward the pylon, just managing to stretch the ball over for a Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown. In a commanding display of grit, Harris refused to be subdued by the slow start to his season, powering through a dense cluster of tacklers for a decisive gain. The determined running back racked up 106 rushing yards, including a 36-yard sprint for the score, propelling the Steelers to a resounding 32-13 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“I have no clue what he did last night or what he ate, but he sure showed up to play today,” Steelers vs Raiders quarterback Justin Fields remarked, visibly impressed with Harris’ performance.
It marked the first time this season Harris eclipsed the 100-yard mark, a feat he last achieved in back-to-back games to close out the previous campaign. Despite rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his initial three seasons, he entered this year averaging a modest 3.3 yards per carry. That soon changed when Harris unleashed a 15-yard run early in the second quarter, seemingly dead in its tracks at the line of scrimmage before he barreled through multiple would-be tacklers, refusing to be denied.
“When the offense isn’t clicking, you need a moment to ignite something,” Harris said. “I always aim to be that spark.”
Fields, though struggling through the air with just 145 passing yards, supplemented the ground game with 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns of his own. His recent dip in form had sparked doubts about his starting position, especially with Russell Wilson now active after missing time due to a calf injury. But for now, Fields remains at the helm as Pittsburgh snapped a two-game skid in emphatic fashion, posting its highest-scoring performance since a 34-11 win over Cincinnati last December.
The Steelers, sitting at 4-2, came into this contest ranked near the bottom of the league in offensive output, averaging a meager 18.4 points per game. However, their defense, after surrendering a staggering 803 yards in consecutive losses, returned to its earlier-season dominance. The unit held the Raiders to just 275 total yards, led by All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt, whose disruptive presence included two forced fumbles and two tackles for loss. Despite being kept away from the quarterback — a clear priority for the Raiders’ game plan — Watt still found ways to influence the game.
“I’ve been practicing that punch-out technique since my college days at Wisconsin,” Watt said. “It’s a tool I rely on, especially when our defense is flying around like this. You can take more risks, and when it pays off, it’s game-changing.”
Raiders’ second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, starting in place of the benched Gardner Minshew, came out hot, completing his first four passes for 55 yards to orchestrate a scoring drive. However, O’Connell’s early rhythm soon faltered. He finished the day 27-of-40 for 227 yards, but his costly fourth-quarter interception set up a Pittsburgh touchdown, effectively sealing the Raiders’ fate. The interception, coupled with the thousands of Terrible Towel-waving Steelers fans in attendance, made Allegiant Stadium feel more like a home game for Pittsburgh.
“We got off to a great start, getting points on that opening drive,” O’Connell said. “But the NFL is a 60-minute game. Momentum can shift quickly.”
The Raiders were also missing key offensive weapons, including top receivers Davante Adams (hamstring) and Jakobi Meyers (ankle), as well as running back Zamir White (groin). Adams’ name has swirled in trade rumors, but head coach Antonio Pierce reaffirmed midweek that he still sees Adams as part of the Raiders’ future.
For Pittsburgh, this victory was a much-needed course correction after the frustration of a late-game collapse against the Dallas Cowboys last week, when they surrendered the lead with just 20 seconds remaining. There would be no such drama this time, as the Raiders’ missteps ensured a comfortable win for the Steelers.
“Winning is what we do,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We hadn’t been handling our business, so it’s good to get back to what we expect — and that’s taking care of business. This is where we should be.”
The Steelers vs Raiders fumble late in the second half, taking over possession deep in Las Vegas territory. A third-down stop by the Raiders was nullified by a roughing-the-passer penalty, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Fields to give Pittsburgh a 12-7 lead.
In the third quarter, a blocked punt led to a Steelers field goal, while yet another roughing penalty paved the way for Harris’ second touchdown of the day, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 22-7. O’Connell’s fourth-quarter interception sealed the game, as Fields added his second touchdown run to complete the rout and extinguish any lingering doubts.
