Steelers Best Raiders In Vegas: Reaction To Underdog Road Victory

PITTSBURGH PA — As the Steelers struggled to get home Monday after their charter flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Kansas City, reaction poured in to their 23-18 win over the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday night.

Here's what writers from across the country thought about the game:

• Christian D'Andrea, USA Today: The Raiders had a chance :for a possible game-tying score as the clock ran down on the fourth quarter. But facing fourth-and-short, in an eight point game, McDaniels opted for a field goal. Twice. And, as a reward for this impressive lack of backbone, was served a 23-18 defeat."

• Bobby Kownack, NFL.com: "To no one's surprise, T.J. Watt remains a menace. The 2021 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year's blazing start to 2023 continued Sunday night. Watt paced the Steelers with two sacks of Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to bring his season total to six already. He fought off double teams throughout the victory and finished the game with six pressures, six QB hits and a turnover caused by pressure."

• Gilberto Manzaro, Sports Illustrated: "The 'Sunday Night Football' broadcast crew repeatedly compared the matchup between the Steelers and the Raiders to the throwback style of smash-mouth 1970s football in an attempt to draw enthusiasm for the slow football that took place. In reality, outside of watching two of the best pass rushers in the league, T.J. Watt and Maxx Crosby, make life difficult for the opposing quarterback, there wasn’t much excitement in Las Vegas."

• John Breech, CBS Sports: "If the Steelers offense plays like this going forward, the Steelers could turn into a dark-horse contender to win the AFC North. Defensively, the Steelers don't have much to worry about. The defense has looked strong all season and that continued on Sunday night with four sacks and three turnovers.