Raiders Week 16 opponent: Steelers win

Here is all of our coverage during the week, leading up to Pittsburgh’s 13-10 win over the Raiders on Saturday night:

Let’s take a look at the Steelers:

Record:

Pittsburgh is 6-8 after a 24-16 win at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Historic anniversary:

The NFL schedule makers were behind this one. This game is being played 50 years and a year after the infamous “Immaculate Reception” game in which the host Steelers beat the Raiders in the 1972 AFC divisional playoffs on a Franco Harris deflected pass. It was controversial and it has gone down as one of the most memorable plays in NFL history. It will surely be a major storyline this week and celebrated in the Steel City, not so much in the Raider Nation.

Missing Big Ben:

The Raiders are one of the few teams sad to see Ben Roethlisberger retire after last season. The future Hall of Fame quarterback was just 2-6 against the Silver and Black.

Mixed Christmas Eve memories:

The Raiders have played on Christmas Eve several times with some lasting memories, both good and bad. There was ‘The Ghost to the Post’ double-overtime playoff win at the Baltimore Colts in 1977 and then there was a 2016 game against the Colts in which Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr broke his leg, essentially ending any chance of a big playoff run.

The Last meeting:

The Raiders beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh 26-17 in Week 2 last season. The Raiders also beat the Steelers in 2018, last losing to them in Pittsburgh in 2015.