Steelers visit Raiders aiming to end road drought against silver and black

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road and defeated their AFC nemesis that wears silver and black, the hot new product in the home entertainment market was the DVD.

“Toy Story” was going strong in theaters, and “Jumanji” was set to be released. “ER,” “Seinfeld” and “Friends” were the top TV programs, and TLC and Hootie & the Blowfish were big winners at the Billboard Music Awards.

The internet was in its infancy, with America Online dominating the fledgling information superhighway. Gas cost $1.11 per gallon.

It was December 1995, Eddie George was the Heisman Trophy winner, and the only pro sports in Las Vegas were confined to the wagers placed in casinos. The Raiders were based in Oakland, having moved back to the Bay Area that season after more than a decade in Los Angeles.

The Steelers went into Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and defeated the Raiders, 29-10, on the strength of two Neil O’Donnell touchdown passes to Ernie Mills and five Norm Johnson field goals. It came near the end of the year in which the Steelers returned to the Super Bowl after a 16-year drought.

This year, the Steelers are trying to get back to the big game again after a 13-year absence, and a win against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday would help their cause.

A win Sunday night also would end a string of four consecutive losses on the road to the Raiders, most coming in unfathomable fashion.

2006

It took 11 years for the Steelers to return to Oakland, and Bill Cowher was in his final season as coach.

In what would become a theme for the Steelers in Oakland, they inexplicably lost to a lesser opponent. This one was 20-13 in the Raiders’ favor, with the loss dropping the Steelers to 2-5.

The Raiders improved to 2-5 but would lose their final nine games. Andrew Walter was the winning quarterback, he of the 5 completions in 14 attempts for 51 yards and a 17.3 passer rating.

The Steelers lost despite holding the Raiders to 98 yards of offense. Ben Roethlisberger threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, including one that Chris Carr brought back 100 yards.

Still, the Steelers had a chance in the final minute after a Joey Porter interception. But the Raiders made a goal-line stand to hold on for the victory.

AP

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger, right, is sacked by Oakland Raiders’ Derrick Burgess in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 29, 2006.

2012

This 34-31 loss to the Raiders in Mike Tomlin’s first trip to Oakland dropped the Steelers to 1-2. The Raiders were on their way to a 4-12 finish.

The Steelers twice had a 10-point lead in the second half but frittered it away as the Raiders scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 43-yard field goal at the buzzer to break the 31-31 tie.

Roethlisberger was sensational in the game, completing 36 of 49 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns. Heath Miller had two touchdown catches. But the Steelers defense played without Troy Polamalu and James Harrison and couldn’t stop the Raiders’ running game. Darren McFadden finished with 113 yards on the ground. The Steelers’ leader was Isaac Redman with 27.

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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller catches a 4-yard pass for a touchdown as Oakland Raiders strong safety Tyvon Branch, right, looks on during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012.

2013

After losing their first four games of the season, the Steelers put a modest two-game winning streak on the line against the Raiders.

This 21-10 decision got away from the Steelers early. On the first play from scrimmage, Jeannette’s Terrelle Pryor ran 93 yards for a touchdown. The Raiders, who again would finish 4-12, held a 21-3 lead in the fourth quarter before the Steelers rallied. Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders, and Le’Veon Bell had a touchdown run. The Steelers, however, could get no closer.

The win for Pryor was one of only three in his career as a quarterback. He prevailed despite completing 10 of 19 passes for 88 yards, no touchdowns, two interceptions and a 25.7 passer rating.

Roethlisberger completed 29 of 45 attempts for 275 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Bell was limited to 24 yards rushing on 13 carries.

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Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) runs against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013.

2018

Continuing a familiar theme, the Steelers lost to a Raiders team that would finish 4-12. Oakland was 2-10 entering the game, while the Steelers were 7-5-1.

The 24-21 defeat was the Steelers’ third in a row, and they would miss the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

This game will be remembered for the faulty X-ray machine that couldn’t provide a clear image of Ben Roethlisberger’s rib injury. The lengthy delay resulted in Roethlisberger missing much of the second half.

Roethlisberger completed 25 of 29 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. JuJu Smith-Schuster was on the receiving end of both scores, which gave the Steelers 14-10 and 21-17 leads.

In Roethlisberger’s absence, Joshua Dobbs was 4 of 9 with an interception. Oakland’s Derek Carr threw the go-ahead touchdown pass with 21 seconds left and torched the Steelers defense for 322 yards in the air.

Chris Boswell had a chance to tie the score but slipped on his 40-yard field goal attempt at the buzzer.

AP

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs against Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley (21) during the second half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018.

After spending one more season in Oakland, the Raiders headed to the desert. The Steelers will catch up with them Sunday night hoping that a change of venue will provide a change of fortune.