A comedy of errors dooms Raiders vs. Steelers in QB Aidan O’Connell’s first start of 2024

New quarterback. Same Las Vegas Raiders.

The first week of the new Aidan O’Connell era began Sunday, a week after Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce benched starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II. The result for the Raiders was the usual frustration as the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a 32-13 record.

The Raiders made countless mistakes throughout the game, including an interception, a fumble at the goal line, a blocked punt and a roughing the passer penalty that negated an interception and extended a Steelers touchdown drive.

The loss leaves the Raiders at 2-4 in a season already filled with turmoil.

O’Connell, who started 10 games as a rookie in 2023, made his first start of 2024 on Sunday to help turn things around. Minshew won the job in the preseason, ousting O’Connell in the first five games of the season.

Pierce benched Minshew last Sunday after his second interception in a 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos. On Wednesday, he named O’Connell the team’s starting quarterback.

O’Connell led them to a touchdown on their first drive and led 7-3. From there, a spiral of errors ensured Pittsburgh was able to win the game.

With Las Vegas leading 7-6 in the second quarter, Steelers linebacker TJ Watt pummeled the ball and forced a fumble by Raiders rookie running back Dylan Laube.

The fumble occurred on Laube’s first career carry. The Steelers recovered and turned the turnover into a touchdown, giving them a 12-7 lead before halftime.

The Raiders almost managed a turnover of their own on the Steelers’ ensuing possession. But a roughing penalty on defensive tackle Matthew Butler prevented an interception by Justin Fields. Six plays later, the Steelers scored the touchdown and took the lead into halftime.

The Raiders’ first possession of the second half ended in another disaster. This time, Steelers linebacker Jeremiah Moon blocked AJ Cole’s punt to take the ball for Pittsburgh inside the Las Vegas 10-yard line.

The Steelers converted best field position into a field goal for a 15-7 lead, then scored a touchdown on their next possession to extend the lead to 22-7.

The Raiders had a chance to cut their deficit to one possession in the fourth quarter with a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line. But Watt came up big again, this time forcing a fumble from Ameer Abdullah at the goal line.

The Steelers rallied and dashed the Raiders’ hopes of a fourth-quarter rally.

The Raiders added to their next possession with an interception by O’Connell that returned Donte Jackson to the Las Vegas 7-yard line.

The Steelers turned that turnover into a touchdown and extended their lead to 29-7 with 7:16 left.

When the game ended, the Raiders had committed three turnovers and forced none. They handed fans a second double-digit defeat in three home games.

In the quarterback change, O’Connell completed 27 of 40 passes for 227 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The loss certainly cannot be blamed on him. But the change at quarterback didn’t do the Raiders any good.