Steelers: 4 Raiders players fans should watch out for in Week 2

The Steelers return home after their conquest in Buffalo to face the Raiders. What players should Steelers fans be aware of when watching Sunday?

Both Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders fans are surely feeling great after their teams came away with upset victories in Week 1, and now the two teams will face each other at Heinz Field on Sunday.

Not only did they both beat the odds, but the deciding factor was the same in both games: the pass rush. More specifically, they were able to get consistent pressure without utilizing the blitz. That allowed for five-plus defensive backs to be on the field against two of the best quarterbacks in the league in the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson.

Both players had off days, and it was clearly the amount of pressure they faced that caused it.

The Raiders, overall, looked much more impressive than expected, making the upcoming date with Pittsburgh much more interesting. Even when they are struggling, the Raiders almost always give the Steelers all they can handle. They are 5-2 against Pittsburgh since the start of the Ben Roethlisberger era, and in most cases, they were not favored to win.

With all of that taken into account, what Las Vegas players should fans be watching out for on Sunday?

Let’s begin with the player who had the most passes thrown his way in the opening week of the season.

Steelers must watch out for TE Darren Waller

Darren Waller has had one of the most surprising rises to stardom in recent NFL history, going from a sixth-round NFL Draft pick who battled substance abuse, to one of the very best players in the sport.

His physical ability, combined with a powerful 6-foot-6, 255-pound frame, has been giving defenders nightmares since he exploded onto the scene in 2019. Since then, Waller has had the fifth most receiving yards in the NFL.

Not just among tight ends, but all receivers.

Despite all the bad publicity and questionable decisions that have plagued head coach Jon Gruden’s return to the silver and black, his call to sign Waller off of the Ravens practice squad in late 2018 has been one of the most impactful decisions of the last decade.

For a team lacking any established outside receivers, Waller has been quarterback Derek Carr’s saving grace. In their victory Monday night against Baltimore, Waller was targeted on an enormous 19 out of 56 passes. That is obviously not sustainable over a full season, but it sends a clear message to opposing defenses on how to plan for Vegas: attack Waller and force the wide receivers to beat you.

If Pittsburgh can manage to keep the ball away from Waller, it will be tough sledding for the Raiders offense.