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Connor Heyward gets a trick hand-off against the Raiders' goal-line defense and easily moves the chains. Game over.
Fifty years after Franco Harris' "Immaculate Reception" helped propel the Steelers to a fourth-quarter comeback victory over the Raiders, Pittsburgh pulled off another stunner against the silver and black to cap the NFL's Christmas Eve slate. In between a ceremony to honor the late Harris, who died at 72 this week, the Steelers dominated on defense, weathering frosty air and an early Raiders lead Saturday to storm back with 10 fourth-quarter points and claim a 13-10 victory.
The come-from-behind win doesn't just tentatively preserve coach Mike Tomlin's streak of non-losing seasons; it also technically keeps the Steelers in the AFC wild card race, while dropping Josh McDaniels' Raiders to 6-9 on the year. Pittsburgh trailed after Las Vegas scored on its opening possession, all the way until the final minute of the game, when rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett found fellow rookie George Pickens for the go-ahead touchdown pass.
Here are some additional takeaways from Saturday night's AFC showdown:
Why the Steelers won
Fitting for a night dedicated to an NFL legend of old, the Steelers turned back the clock to the days of old-school smashmouth football, particularly on defense. After surrendering a 15-play opening TD drive, Pittsburgh all but eliminated Josh McDaniels' offense, swallowing up Josh Jacobs, blanketing Davante Adams and, most notably, baiting Derek Carr into a handful of ill-timed shots en route to three picks. Cameron Heyward was a force up front, Alex Highsmith had a key sack, and Cameron Sutton produced maybe the best interception of his career, diving to rob Carr of a last-gasp deep ball and seal the win. While predictably plodding for much of the night, Kenny Pickett and Co. did their part in crunch time, too: Pickett's go-ahead TD strike to George Pickens was flawless, and both Najee Harris and Pat Freiermuth stepped up on the final drive.
Why the Raiders lost
Derek Carr was not prepared for this kind of weather or defense, apparently. Obviously the loss doesn't solely fall on the Raiders' veteran QB. Jacobs, for instance, had nothing going on the ground, and the timing between Carr and Hunter Renfrow didn't always seem pristine, which makes sense considering the latter has missed most of the year due to injury. But given one opportunity after another to put an ugly, low-scoring game away, No. 4 too often put the ball up and in traffic, gifting the Steelers bonus possessions -- and, once, immediately following Pickett's own pick. It didn't help that Adams was invisible until one of the final drives, but this was simply an off night for Carr, who's now thrown nine picks in his last five outings.
Turning point
Fourth-and-1 for the Steelers at the Raiders' 15-yard line, with only 55 seconds on the clock. This was the game. Kenny Pickett got just enough on the ensuing QB sneak, picking up a new set of downs and, with a timeout still remaining, ensuring a legitimate chance to steal the lead in the final minute. The Pickett TD came immediately afterward, vaulting the Steelers in front after a night of playing catch-up in the cold. The Raiders' three-and-out beforehand was part of the momentum shift.
Play of the game
It's gotta belong to Sutton, who really laid out and then hung onto the ball for Carr's third pick of the night despite contacting Hunter Renfrow on his way to the grass:
What's next
The Raiders (6-9) will return home for a Week 17 showdown with the NFC West-leading 49ers (11-4), who beat the Commanders on Christmas Eve. The Steelers (7-8), meanwhile, will hit the road for a rematch with the rival Ravens (10-5), who clinched a playoff spot by edging the Falcons earlier Saturday.
