The Steelers’ woeful record against the Raiders in the Tomlin era


Raiders defeated the Ravens on Monday. 


… Now, though, they are L.V. instead of Oakland


The Raiders-Steelers matchup at the start of the season appeared to be one that the Pittsburgh fans could record as a W. 


Unfortunately, the fans did not look at the numbers in the Tomlin era. The Post-Gazette noted that today, and the numbers are devastating. 


The simple story


Here is the record of the coach and the franchise QB against the team that is now called Las Vegas instead of Oakland. It is not pretty,


Roethlisberger is 2-5 against the Raiders. That’s his worst record against any AFC team (he’s 4-7 against New England). Tomlin is 2-4, his worst record against any AFC team not named the Patriots.


Joe Starkey, “Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Tomlin and their terrible, no good, very 

bad history with the Raiders,” Post-Gazette, September 15, 2021


Details


The problem is that the Raiders defeated the Ravens last Monday night in an upset. That makes the Steeler fans even more antsy,


Oct. 29, 2006, Oakland Coliseum: Raiders 20, Steelers 13


History: Roethlisberger was coming off a concussion the previous week, an emergency appendectomy the previous month and a motorcycle accident the previous summer. He played arguably the worst game of his career, throwing four interceptions, including one for a 100-yard touchdown. He even threw one to a guy named Fabian (Washington) against the 1-5 Raiders.


Words: “It just seems like one guy makes mistakes, and that's me. In my wildest dreams, I didn't think I'd be playing this bad.” — Roethlisberger.


Wisdom: Don’t play a guy who might still be concussed from the previous game.


Dec. 6, 2009, Heinz Field: Raiders 27, Steelers 24


History: You might remember this as the low point of Tomlin’s “Unleash Hell” campaign. Tom Cable’s 3-8 Raiders scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns behind one Bruce Gradkowski and waltzed out with an unfathomable win. Gradkowski had posted a 1.0 passer rating in his previous visit to Heinz Field. Oh, and Roethlisberger nearly completed a miracle pass to Sweed at the buzzer — 17 days shy of the 37th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.


Words: “Our receivers coach [Sanjay Lal] gave us a message, and he brought up the Miracle on Ice, Buster Douglas knocking out [Mike] Tyson, and things that were just unbelievable but the people that did it believed they could.” — Raiders receiver Todd Watkins.


Wisdom: Never give up three fourth-quarter touchdowns to a backup quarterback on your home field — and never lose to Tom Cable.


Sept. 23, 2012, Oakland Coliseum: Raiders 34, Steelers 31


History: Roethlisberger was incredible (36 of 49, 384 yards, four TDs), but the defense decidedly was not, playing without Troy Polamalu and James Harrison. Carson Palmer went wild, and the Raiders — who would finish 4-12 — outscored the Steelers 13-0 in the fourth quarter for coach Dennis Allen’s first NFL win.


Words: “I’d like to tip my cap to the Oakland Raiders.” — Tomlin


Wisdom: Pray your star defensive players stay healthy — and never lose to Dennis Allen.


Oct. 27, 2013, Oakland Coliseum: Raiders 21, Steelers 18


History: On the very first play, Terrelle Pryor ran 93 yards untouched for the longest quarterback touchdown run in NFL history. The rest is a blur, other than Shaun Suisham missing easy field goals. The Raiders would finish 4-12.



Words: “I don’t think anybody was close to catching him. He’s like a dad-gum gazelle out there.” — Raiders guard Mike Brisiel on Pryor (surely a quote that would make Keith Butler proud).

Wisdom: Tackle the quarterback.


Dec. 9, 2018, Oakland Coliseum: Raiders 24, Steelers 21


History: Tomlin inexplicably kept a sort-of injured Roethlisberger on the sidelines as the Steelers were losing a lead, then put him in when the Raiders went ahead. The two later blamed an antiquated X-ray machine for their troubles, saying the images were not readable. A hook-and-lateral to JuJu Smith-Schuster set up a tying field goal attempt, but Chris Boswell fell flat on his rear end on the approach.


Words: “(Roethlisberger) probably could’ve come in a series or so sooner, but we were in a rhythm and flow of the game.” — Tomlin, who was apparently watching a different game than the rest of us.


Wisdom: If your franchise quarterback is available, use him. And check the X-ray machines before every game.


Joe Starkey, Post-Gazette, September 15, 2021


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