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

New quarterback. Same Las Vegas Raiders.

New Aidan O'Connell's first week began Sunday, a week after Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce benched starting quarterback Gardner Minshew. The result for the Raiders was the usual frustration as the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a 32-13 loss in Las Vegas.

The Raiders made countless mistakes throughout the game, including an interception, a fumble at the goal line, a blocked punt and a penalty on the passer that negated an interception and extended the 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 at quarterback on Sunday in an attempt to turn things around. Gardner Minshew won the job in the preseason, replacing O'Connell for the first five games of 2024.

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.

Sunday got off to a good start for the Raiders as O'Connell led them to a touchdown on their first drive to take a 7-3 lead. But from there, a spiral of errors caused Pittsburgh to run away with the game.

With Las Vegas leading 7-6 in the second quarter, Steelers linebacker TJ Watt pummeled the ball and forced a fumble by 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 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 their prime field position into a field goal to take 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 reinforced their next possession with a thrown interception by O'Connell that returned Donte Jackson to the Las Vegas 7-yard line.

The Raiders converted 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.