Raiders vs Steelers: position-group matchup

The biggest mismatch: the Raiders pass rush (2nd) against the Steelers pass protection (23rd).

On paper

4 games in. Samples are still small, so a rank can move a lot in a week. Ranks are out of 32 teams and 1st is always best, on offense and defense alike.

Raiders

pairings with the edge

Steelers

pairings with the edge

of 8

On paper, the Raiders hold the edge across the position groups.

Raiders big edge
Raiders pass rush (2nd) against the Steelers pass protection (23rd)
Raiders big edge
Raiders pass coverage (2nd) against the Steelers quarterback play (25th)
Steelers edge
Steelers run defense (22nd) against the Raiders run game (30th)
Steelers edge
Steelers run game (10th) against the Raiders run defense (20th)

Position group by position group

Each offense against the other team's defense, one position group at a time. Circle: the offense. Diamond: the defense. Whoever sits further right wins that pairing.

Raiders offense vs Steelers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Even
WeakestBest
The Raiders pass protection ranks 16th. The Steelers pass rush ranks 12th.
Raiders report: Jackson Powers-Johnson (G, out, groin)
The numbers and the players
Raiders pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback3.3% (3rd)
- Pressure allowed per dropback26% (28th)
- Spencer Burford (G) 100% of snaps
- Delmar Glaze (T) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Linderbaum (C) 100% of snaps
- Kolton Miller (T) 100% of snaps
- Jackson Powers-Johnson (G) 98% of snaps
Steelers pass rush
- Sacks per dropback7.9% (7th)
- Pressure per dropback21% (24th)
- Quarterback hits per dropback17.3% (10th)
- T.J. Watt (LB) 8 pressures, 4.5 sacks
- Alex Highsmith (LB) 5 pressures, 3 sacks
- Cameron Heyward (DT) 4 pressures
Run game vs run defense
Steelers edge
WeakestBest
The Raiders run game ranks 30th. The Steelers run defense ranks 22nd.
Raiders report: Jackson Powers-Johnson (G, out, groin)
The numbers and the players
Raiders run game
- Points added per run−0.20 (28th)
- Runs that keep the drive on track34% (27th)
- Rushing yards after contact1.7 (15th)
- Runs of 10+ yards7.5% (20th)
- Rushing yards before contact1.4 (32nd)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line27% (32nd)
- Ashton Jeanty (RB) −0.28 per run on 77
- Mike Washington Jr. (RB) −0.09 per run on 24
- Spencer Burford (G) 100% of snaps
- Delmar Glaze (T) 100% of snaps
- Tyler Linderbaum (C) 100% of snaps
- Kolton Miller (T) 100% of snaps
- Jackson Powers-Johnson (G) 98% of snaps
Steelers run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.10 (16th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line21% (10th)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed9.9% (19th)
- Missed tackles12.6% (30th)
- Payton Wilson (LB) 34 tackles, 5 missed
- Patrick Queen (LB) 27 tackles, 3 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Even
WeakestBest
The Raiders quarterback play ranks 14th. The Steelers pass coverage ranks 14th.
Steelers report: Jalen Ramsey (CB, questionable, wrist)
The numbers and the players
Raiders quarterback play
- Points added per dropback+0.15 (11th)
- Completions above expected+1.9 (15th)
- Interceptions per throw2.7% (25th)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback8.6% (11th)
- Kirk Cousins (QB) +0.15 per dropback on 148
Steelers pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw+0.03 (18th)
- Completions allowed above expected+2.0 (21st)
- Interceptions per throw3.3% (5th)
- Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) 133.1 passer rating allowed on 19 targets
- Jalen Ramsey (CB) 124.8 passer rating allowed on 18 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Raiders edge
WeakestBest
The Raiders receiving corps ranks 13th. The Steelers pass coverage ranks 21st.
Steelers report: Jalen Ramsey (CB, questionable, wrist)
The numbers and the players
Raiders receiving corps
- Points added per target+0.24 (14th)
- Yards after the catch4.0 (25th)
- Drops per target2.2% (7th)
- Tackles broken per catch5.4% (11th)
- Ashton Jeanty (RB) −0.06 per target on 25
- Brock Bowers (TE) +0.57 per target on 24
- Michael Mayer (TE) +0.26 per target on 24
Steelers pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed10.2% (25th)
- Passer rating allowed88.9 (11th)
- Points allowed per throw+0.03 (18th)
- Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) 133.1 passer rating allowed on 19 targets
- Jalen Ramsey (CB) 124.8 passer rating allowed on 18 targets

Steelers offense vs Raiders defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Raiders big edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers pass protection ranks 23rd. The Raiders pass rush ranks 2nd.
The numbers and the players
Steelers pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback7.7% (24th)
- Pressure allowed per dropback24% (20th)
- Zach Frazier (C) 100% of snaps
- Mason McCormick (G) 100% of snaps
- Troy Fautanu (T) 100% of snaps
- Max Iheanachor (T) 51% of snaps
- Brock Hoffman (G) 51% of snaps
Raiders pass rush
- Sacks per dropback8.2% (5th)
- Pressure per dropback38% (2nd)
- Quarterback hits per dropback21.9% (2nd)
- Maxx Crosby (DE) 18 pressures, 2 sacks
- Kwity Paye (DE) 7 pressures, 2 sacks
- Malcolm Koonce (DE) 6 pressures, 2.5 sacks
Run game vs run defense
Steelers edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers run game ranks 10th. The Raiders run defense ranks 20th.
The numbers and the players
Steelers run game
- Points added per run+0.00 (7th)
- Runs that keep the drive on track40% (14th)
- Rushing yards after contact2.2 (4th)
- Runs of 10+ yards10.4% (11th)
- Rushing yards before contact2.2 (23rd)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line17% (13th)
- Jaylen Warren (RB) +0.05 per run on 53
- Rico Dowdle (RB) −0.38 per run on 15
- Zach Frazier (C) 100% of snaps
- Mason McCormick (G) 100% of snaps
- Troy Fautanu (T) 100% of snaps
- Max Iheanachor (T) 51% of snaps
- Brock Hoffman (G) 51% of snaps
Raiders run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.15 (8th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line18% (16th)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed11.6% (27th)
- Missed tackles9.4% (23rd)
- Nakobe Dean (LB) 33 tackles, 7 missed
- Quay Walker (LB) 30 tackles, 2 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Raiders big edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers quarterback play ranks 25th. The Raiders pass coverage ranks 2nd.
The numbers and the players
Steelers quarterback play
- Points added per dropback−0.17 (28th)
- Completions above expected−4.5 (28th)
- Interceptions per throw2.4% (23rd)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback8.3% (12th)
- Aaron Rodgers (QB) −0.16 per dropback on 164
Raiders pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw−0.15 (3rd)
- Completions allowed above expected−4.1 (4th)
- Interceptions per throw2.9% (7th)
- Eric Stokes (CB) 87.5 passer rating allowed on 22 targets
- Hezekiah Masses (CB) 42.9 passer rating allowed on 20 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Raiders edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers receiving corps ranks 10th. The Raiders pass coverage ranks 4th.
The numbers and the players
Steelers receiving corps
- Points added per target+0.05 (24th)
- Yards after the catch6.3 (6th)
- Drops per target3.5% (14th)
- Tackles broken per catch9.3% (4th)
- DK Metcalf (WR) −0.03 per target on 32
- Roman Wilson (WR) +0.31 per target on 24
- Jaylen Warren (RB) −0.14 per target on 21
Raiders pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed6.2% (7th)
- Passer rating allowed88.9 (12th)
- Points allowed per throw−0.15 (3rd)
- Eric Stokes (CB) 87.5 passer rating allowed on 22 targets
- Hezekiah Masses (CB) 42.9 passer rating allowed on 20 targets

Tale of the tape

Every unit on its own, side by side.

RaidersSteelers

14th
QuarterbackOffense
25th
29th
Offensive lineOffense
21st
13th
ReceiversOffense
10th
24th
Run gameOffense
7th
2nd
Pass rushDefense
12th
20th
Run defenseDefense
22nd
4th
Pass coverageDefense
17th

Longer bar is better. Each unit is graded on the stats shown in the pairings above, ranked among all 32 teams.

How these grades are calculated

Each position group is judged on three to five plain stats, listed below. All of them are per play or per throw, never season totals.
Every stat is ranked across all 32 teams, 1st to 32th, the right way round (fewer drops is better, more pressure is better for a pass rush).
A rank becomes a score from 0 to 100, with 1st at 100 and last at 0. The group's grade is the average of its stats' scores.
Teams are ranked by that grade, and that rank is the number on the cards.

For example, the Steelers quarterback is 25th. Its stats rank 28th (points added per dropback), 28th (completions above expected), 23rd (interceptions per throw), and 12th (passes of 20+ yards per dropback). Averaged, that is a grade of 30 out of 100, which is 25th among the 32 teams.

This is why a grade can disagree with a total or with another site's rating. A team can rank high in rushing yards because it carries the ball a lot or trails late, and still rank low here because each run adds little. Film grades, like PFF's, come from watching every player on every snap, and these do not. Early in the season a few plays can move a rank a lot.

Quarterback: points added per dropback, completions above expected, interceptions per throw, passes of 20+ yards per dropback
Offensive line: sacks allowed per dropback, pressure allowed per dropback, rushing yards before contact, runs stopped at or behind the line
Receivers: points added per target, yards after the catch, drops per target, tackles broken per catch
Run game: points added per run, runs that keep the drive on track, rushing yards after contact, runs of 10+ yards
Pass rush: sacks per dropback, pressure per dropback, quarterback hits per dropback
Run defense: points allowed per run, runs stopped at or behind the line, runs of 10+ yards allowed, missed tackles
Pass coverage: points allowed per throw, completions allowed above expected, passes of 20+ yards allowed, interceptions per throw, passer rating allowed

The coaches

Records are regular-season games since 1999, against the spread as listed by the games file. A new coach has no history here yet.

Measure	Raiders	Steelers
Head coach	Klint Kubiak	Mike McCarthy
Record as a head coach	3-1 in 4 games (first year)	176-114-2 in 292 games
With this team	3-1 since 2026	2-2 since 2026
Against the spread, this season	4-0	2-2
Against the spread, career	4-0	158-127-7
Against the spread as an underdog	3-0	48-53-2
Against the spread as a favorite	1-0	110-74-5
Coming off a bye	none yet	12-6
Head coach against head coach	Have not met	Have not met
Team against team since 1999	7-8	8-7

Last meetings, newest first: Raiders 13-32 (2024 Wk 6) · Raiders 18-23 (2023 Wk 3) · Raiders 10-13 (2022 Wk 16) · Raiders 26-17 (2021 Wk 2) · Raiders 24-21 (2018 Wk 14)

How each team plays

Not good or bad, just the style. Ranks go from the highest rate down, so a 1st means the most of it in the league.

How the offenses like to play

Pass rate over expected
Raiders −2.8 pts (19th highest)
Steelers +3.9 pts (3rd highest) — throws more than the situation calls for
Play-action share of dropbacks
Raiders 25% (13th highest)
Steelers 21% (27th highest) — rarely uses play-action
Plays with pre-snap motion
Raiders 66% (6th highest) — moves players before almost every snap
Steelers 49% (29th highest) — keeps its formations still
No-huddle plays
Raiders 4% (22nd highest)
Steelers 10% (5th highest) — hurries to the line
Plays from the shotgun
Raiders 51% (26th highest) — stays under center
Steelers 67% (11th highest)

How the defenses like to play

Blitz rate
Raiders 25% (23rd highest)
Steelers 28% (17th highest)
Pass rushers sent
Raiders 4.3 (24th highest)
Steelers 4.3 (19th highest)
Runs against a loaded box (8+)
Raiders 9% (15th highest)
Steelers 9% (13th highest)

Who is missing

The latest injury report for each team, sorted by position group. A starter averaged more than half the team's snaps in the games he played.

Raiders

Jackson Powers-Johnson GStarterOut · groin · offensive line
Aidan O'Connell QBQuestionable · not injury related - personal matter · quarterback
Brock Bowers TEStarterLimited in practice · receivers
Cody White WRLimited in practice · receivers

Steelers

Joey Porter Jr. CBOut · not injury related - other · pass coverage
Rico Dowdle RBOut · toe · run game
Jalen Ramsey CBStarterQuestionable · wrist · pass coverage
Yahya Black DTQuestionable · not injury related - personal matter · pass rush
Brandin Echols CBLimited in practice · concussion · pass coverage

← All 32 teams

Data: nflverse play-by-play, CC BY 4.0. Ranks use the 2026 regular season through Week 4. Also FTN charting, Pro Football Reference advanced stats, snap counts and injury reports, all through nflverse. Calculations and charts by Raiders Rundown.

Raiders vs Steelers: position-group matchup

On paper

Raiders pass rush (2nd) against the Steelers pass protection (23rd)

Raiders pass coverage (2nd) against the Steelers quarterback play (25th)

Steelers run defense (22nd) against the Raiders run game (30th)

Steelers run game (10th) against the Raiders run defense (20th)

Position group by position group

Raiders offense vs Steelers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Steelers offense vs Raiders defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Tale of the tape

The coaches

How each team plays

Who is missing

Raiders

Steelers