PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw a 14-yard landing move to George Pickens with 46 seconds remaining, and the Pittsburgh Steelers capped three days of tributes to the late Franco Harris with a 13-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night time.
On the identical night time the Steelers retired Harris’ No. 32 — the Corridor of Fame operating again died Wednesday at age 72 — Pittsburgh (7-8) saved its faint playoff hopes alive by delivering one other last-second victory over the Raiders. Las Vegas (6-9) was pushed to the brink of elimination from the postseason.
A day after the fiftieth anniversary of Harris’ “Immaculate Reception” win over the Raiders within the 1972 playoffs, Pickett deftly drove the Steelers 76 yards in 10 performs, the final a dart over the center to a wide-open Pickens ultimately zone.
Pickett accomplished 26 of 39 for 244 yards with a landing and an interception. Tight finish Pat Freiermuth caught seven passes for 66 yards and Najee Harris had 95 complete yards because the Steelers received for the fifth time in seven video games.
Derek Carr threw for 174 yards with a landing and three interceptions, the final one a floater down the center of the sector that was picked off by Cam Sutton with 29 seconds to go. Pittsburgh rookie Connor Heyward ran for a primary down to assist the Steelers run out of the clock.
The Raiders, coming off a dramatic last-play victory over New England final week, reverted to their kind from earlier this season by dropping their eighth one-score recreation of the 12 months. They could possibly be eradicated from the playoffs by the top of the week.
The Steelers paid tribute to Harris in numerous methods throughout a bitterly chilly night time. Gamers wore replicas of his jersey whereas getting into the stadium. Defensive captain Cam Heyward ran onto the sector waving an enormous flag with Harris’ quantity, and Pickett even shouted “Franco! Franco!” throughout his cadence earlier than changing a quarterback sneak within the first half.
Nonetheless, it regarded prefer it wouldn’t be sufficient. Whereas Pittsburgh moved the ball with ease at occasions, it continued to battle as soon as it acquired close to the top zone. Pickett threw an interception within the third quarter — his first in 145 makes an attempt — and Chris Boswell missed a pair of discipline objectives.
Carr began crisply within the 8-degree climate — the coldest residence recreation for the Steelers since 1989 — and completed off a 14-play, 71-yard opening drive with a 14-yard landing strike to Hunter Renfrow.
But Las Vegas let the Steelers dangle round, and Pickett — whose identify was introduced by Harris when Pittsburgh took him with the twentieth general decide in final spring’s draft — supplied the primary signature second of what the Steelers hope might be a adorned profession.
HONORING HARRIS
What was purported to develop into a celebratory weekend for one of many NFL’s marquee franchises turned bittersweet when Harris died simply two days earlier than the fiftieth anniversary of his “Immaculate Reception” in opposition to the Raiders within the 1972 playoffs.
The halftime ceremony featured lots of Harris’ teammates from the Nineteen Seventies Steelers dynasty. His widow, Dana Dokmanovich, and their son, Dok, joined Pittsburgh president Artwork Rooney II on stage. Dokmanovich leaned into Rooney after he handed her Harris’ jersey, and Pittsburgh Corridor of Fame defensive finish Joe Greene brushed away tears.
INJURIES
Raiders: DE Chandler Jones exited with a left elbow damage within the third quarter after colliding with teammate Maxx Crosby and didn’t return. … LB Denzel Perryman went to the locker room with a left shoulder damage within the fourth quarter.
Steelers: CB Tre Norwood left within the first half with a hamstring damage and didn’t return.
UP NEXT
Raiders: Host NFC West champion San Francisco on Jan. 1.
Steelers: At Baltimore on Jan. 1. The Ravens edged Pittsburgh 16-14 at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 11.
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