Oakland vs Pittsburgh: NFL 2015 Week 9 Steel City Showdown

Oakland Raiders: On their way to being relevant again

Since Oakland hasn’t had a winning season since 2002, it’s been a while since the words relevant and Raiders were used in the same sentence. During those years of futility, Oakland has posted a 56-136 record and they haven’t finished higher than third in the AFC West Division. Tagged with a +17500 ML to win Super Bowl 50 back in the preseason, the Raiders are enjoying a revival year as their 4-3 record has them sitting in the top AFC Wild Card playoff position. There’s still a lot of football to be played but, looking at their remaining schedule, Oakland could get to double-digit wins this year. After shredding the New York Jets “vaunted” defense, a 34-20 beat down in the Black Hole last weekend, Oakland has won two straight and they are brimming with confidence. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Le’Veon Bell injury compounds NFL Week 8 loss to the Bengals

Injuries continue as a plague in Pittsburgh and the worst of the worst hit during the Steelers 16-10 home loss to AFC North rival Cincinnati last weekend. After finally having their complete offense on the field, with QB Ben Roethlisberger back after a four-week injury rehab, the Steelers suffered what may be a dagger to their playoff hopes when all-world running back Le’Veon Bell was lost for the season with a torn MCL versus the Bengals. While one man does not make a team, Bell is integral to so many things the Steelers do as he’s a threat to run, catch passes, or simply act as a decoy in play-action passing schemes. With LT Kelvin Beachum and C Maurkice Pouncey already out with injuries, the loss hurts even more when you consider that Bell is one NFL’s top pass protecting running backs. Pittsburgh is four games behind the Bengals in the AFC North Division.

Oakland vs Pittsburgh NFL Week 9 Prediction: A big part of the Raides revival has been sparked by QB David Carr who owns the fifth best passer rating (105.7) in the NFL. Carr, with the help of stud rookie WR Amari Cooper, has 1,793 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and he’s tossed just three interceptions. Though not normally big on teams traveling west to east, the Raiders are riding a huge wave of confidence as they roll into Pittsburgh. Oakland has enough weapons, on both sides of the ball, to stay close and possibly win this contest. Give us the Raiders with a 500 unit wager on the +9.5 alternate point spread price posted on the NFL betting board at SportsInteraction.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Oakland Raiders – SportsInteraction NFL Week 9 Betting Lines

Category : Sports News