STEELERS BLACK -N- GOLD POST A Pittsburgh Steelers Blog from the heart of Steelers Nation.

by Ramona Dye

This match-up is almost a "must win" for our Steelers. Going into this game with a 6-5 record this season, our Steelers really need to win out to keep the playoff hopes alive.

A little history on our match-ups against the Raiders.

Pittsburgh has an 8-9 record all-time against the Oakland Raiders in the regular season, including a 4-4 mark at home and a 4-5 record on the road.

This will be Oakland’s first trip to Pittsburgh since our Steelers defeated the Raiders, 24-21, on September 12, 2004, in the season opener.

That win, along with a 27-7 victory over Oakland on December 7, 2003 at Heinz Field, gives our Steelers a two-game home winning streak over the Raiders.

Pittsburgh has won three of the past four games over Oakland in Pittsburgh. Oakland defeated our Steelers, 20-13, on Oct. 29, 2006 in the most recent match-up between our teams.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 301 yards in that game, but also threw a career-high four interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

Our Steelers have a 5-2 record against the Raiders since the start of the Free Agency Era in 1993.

With 46 tackles in eight career games against the Raiders, LB James Farrior has averaged 5.75 tackles per game against Oakland, including two performances with ten or more tackles in 2006 and 2001.

Hines Ward has caught 30 career passes against the Raiders for 375 yards with two touchdowns in five games.

Our Steelers look to improve to 9-9 all-time versus the Oakland Raiders in the regular season

and 5-4 all-time versus the Raiders at home.

Steelers look to improve to 3-1 against the Raiders at Heinz Field and 5-1 at home this year.

Hopefully our Steelers can snap a current three-game losing streak with a win over the Raiders this Sunday.

until then....

As always, Here We Go!!!