Carr throws for 2 TDs, Raiders beat Steelers 26-17

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Derek Carr threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard strike to Henry Ruggs midway through the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-17 on Sunday. Carr completed 28 of 37 passes against a Pittsburgh defense that finished the game without a handful of starters, including All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who exited in the second quarter with a groin injury. The Steelers (1-1) lost defensive tackle Tyson Alualu in the first quarter and played the entire game without veteran cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush, both of whom were inactive with groin injuries of their own. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 295 yards for Pittsburgh, including a 25-yard catch-and-run early in the fourth quarter that rookie running back Najee Harris turned into the first touchdown of his career. The Raiders (2-0) responded immediately. Carr uncorked a rainbow down the middle of the field, giving Ruggs plenty of time to run away from Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ahkello Witherspoon and into the end zone. RAMS 27, COLTS 24 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Matthew Stafford led Los Angeles on two late scoring drives and Matt Gay made a tiebreaking 38-yard field goal with 2:23 to play. The Rams have won three straight in this series and have taken all five road openers under coach Sean McVay. Stafford wasn’t as proficient as he was in the season-opening victory over Chicago but he did play well – even after appearing to hit his right thumb on the helmet of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in the first half. He finished 19 of 30 for 278 yards, two TD passes and one interception. Cooper Kupp caught nine passes for 163 yards and two scores for the Rams (2-0). The Colts are 0-2 for the first time in coach Frank Reich’s four-year tenure and now face a daunting three-game road trip. Indy tied it on a 35-yard field goal with 7:22 left, but quarterback Carson Wentz injured his right ankle on the play before the field goal and did not return. The injury doomed Indy’s comeback hopes as Jacob Eason was intercepted on his second NFL pass. BILLS 35, DOLPHINS 0 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes, Zach Moss ran for two scores and the Bills knocked out Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa early with a rib injury. Devin Singletary rushed for 82 yards and another touchdown for the Bills (1-1), who have won six consecutive games in the series. It was the second-worst shutout loss by the Dolphins (1-1) at home, topped only by a 43-0 defeat to New England in 2019. Tagovailoa lasted only two series, knocked out of the game on a failed fourth-down play near midfield where Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa blew past Dolphins right tackle Jesse Davis and was at full speed when he launched into Miami’s quarterback. Tagovailoa needed a couple tries just to get to the sideline and was carted to the locker room not long afterward. Jacoby Brissett took over, completing 24 of 40 passes for 169 yards. Allen completed 17 of 33 passes for 179 yards for Buffalo. BROWNS 31, TEXANS 21 CLEVELAND (AP) – Baker Mayfield came back after hurting his left shoulder to throw a touchdown pass and run for a TD, leading Cleveland to the victory. Nick Chubb had a 26-yard touchdown run for the Browns (1-1), who bounced back from a Week 1 loss at Kansas City to thrill their first capacity home crowd since 2019. Mayfield went 10 for 10 after a first-half interception – and injuring his non-throwing shoulder while making the tackle on the play – and finished 19 of 21 for 213 yards. Chubb had 95 yards on 11 carries. The Texans (1-1) were tied at halftime and moving the ball with ease before losing quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a hamstring injury.

Related posts