Oakland Raiders: Keys to Victory Over Pittsburgh Steelers

Oct 25, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) pats offensive tackle Austin Howard (77) on the back during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Keep Carr Upright

For the second straight week, the Raiders will be facing a team that knows how to get after the quarterback so the offensive line will need to be on point.

The Steelers currently rank the team with the sixth most sacks in the NFL, notching 22 of them over their first eight games. The Pittsburgh charge is led by Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh’s first round pick out of Kentucky this year. The rookie has blended seamlessly into the Steelers’ defensive front and has recorded four sacks to lead the team. He knows how to get into the backfield and wreak some havoc, so the Raiders are going to need to keep an eye on him.

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He’s far from the only threat on that Pittsburgh defensive front though as 11 different players have recorded a sack for the Steelers.

The Raiders offensive line – under the tutelage of offensive line coach Mike Tice – has performed admirably this year. They’ve far exceeded the modest expectations most had for them when the season started. They’ve allowed Carr to be sacked just eight times, and have surrendered 10 overall for the year – making them one of the best and most effective pass blocking units in the entire league.

With one of the worst pass defenses in the league – currently tenty-sixth and giving up 270 yards per game – Pittsburgh pins a lot of its effectiveness on the defensive side of the ball on that pass rush. If they can keep the Steelers at bay and keep Carr upright, he has the potential to have another big day.

Bottom line, they will need to answer the bell and protect Carr from a fierce pass rush if the offense is going to move.

Next: Ground and Pound