PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Jordy Nelson. There was talk that the 33-year-old Nelson might retire after this season when he got off to a slow start after the Raiders signed him to a two-year contract following his release by Green Bay after 10 seasons with the Packers, most as Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver. In addition to his low production, Nelson was slowed by a knee injury that caused him to miss Oakland’s game against the Arizona Cardinals in November. However, he suddenly showed what the Raiders were expecting from him last week, when quarterback Derek Carr found him 10 times for 97 yards against the Chiefs. That gives him 35 receptions for 450 yards and three touchdowns this season, but now that he and Carr seem to be on the same page, expect those numbers to go up in the last four weeks of the season. The 6-3, 217-pound Nelson would seem to be a perfect fit for head coach Jon Gruden’s version of the West Coast offense.
GAME PLAN: Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell has m issed the entire season, but it hasn’t really mattered because James Conner has filled in and rushed for 909 and 12 touchdowns. However, Conner will miss the game because of a sprained left ankle, so rookie Jaylen Samuels and veteran Stevan Ridley will get the bulk of the carries for Pittsburgh. That might be good news for the Raiders, except that they are allowing 153.2 rushing yards per game, 31st among the NFL’s 32 teams. If the Raiders can slow down the Steelers’ ground game, they still have to deal with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throwing to electric wide receiver Antonio Brown against a young secondary.
While quarterback Derek Carr has had his moments this season, he and the Raiders lost shootouts to Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and last week to Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Oakland would like to control the ball with Carr throwing to tight end Jared Cook, an emerging star, and wide receiver Jordy Nelson. The Raiders also have had some success running the ball with Doug Martin and Jalen Richard after Marshawn Lynch went out for the year because of a groin injury, but can’t afford to get behind as they have all season. Once that happens, it all falls on Carr.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Raiders secondary. As Raiders head coach Jon Gruden pointed out, the Steelers like to move Brown around, so “You don’t know where he’s going to be.” Gruden even compared Brown, who has 81 receptions for 1,028 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, to Jerry Rice. The Steelers probably will try to get Brown singled up on the young defensive backs in the Oakland secondary: Gareon Conley, Karl Joseph, Daryl Worley and Nick Nelson. Safety Marcus Gilchrist, who has two interceptions in recent games, must give this group some veteran leadership and perhaps picks off one or two of Ben Roethlisberger’s passes.
–Raiders QB Derek Carr vs. Steelers secondary. The Steelers, even with a depleted secondary, did a good job against Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers last week, for a half. Then Rivers brought the Chargers from a 23-7 halftime deficit to a 33-30 victory, finishing with 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Pittsburgh was playing without safety Morgan Burnett (back) and cornerback Cameron Sutton (personal issue), but both are expected back to help deal with Carr throwing to tight end Jared Cook and wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who combined for 17 receptions and 197 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
