Najee Harris' first 100-yard rushing game this season lifts Steelers to 32-13 win over Raiders

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Najee Harris broke free down the left sideline, reached the 5-yard line and dived toward the pylon, just getting the ball across the goal line for a Steelers touchdown.

Shaking off a slow start to the season, Harris didn't let anything stand in his way — even if it meant pushing through a swarm of tacklers for a big gain.

Harris rushed for 106 yards and the 36-yard touchdown to lift Pittsburgh to a 32-13 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

“I don’t know what he ate last night, I don’t know what he did, but he sure did ball out today,” Steelers quarterback Justin Fields said.

Harris exceeded 100 yards for the first time since ending last season with back-to-back such performances. He rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons but entered averaging 3.3 yards per carry this year.

Harris had a 15-yard run early in the second quarter in which he nearly was stopped at the line of scrimmage but fought through multiple tacklers.

“When drives aren't going well, you need a play that will spark it,” Harris said. “I always try to be that person to spark the play.”

Fields added 59 yards on the ground and two TDs, though he passed for just 145 yards. Fields' hold on the starting job had come into question after recent subpar performances and with Russell Wilson being activated for the first time this season after being out with a calf injury.

Pittsburgh (4-2) stopped a two-game skid with its highest-scoring game since beating Cincinnati 34-11 last Dec. 23. The Steelers entered ranked 26th in scoring offense, with an 18.4-point average.

Their defense, which gave up 803 yards in losses the past two weeks, returned to early-season form when their first three opponents gained just 687 yards combined. Pittsburgh held the Raiders (2-4) to 275 yards, and four-time All-Pro T.J. Watt forced two fumbles and had two tackles for loss.

Watt, who had no sacks after entering the game with 4 1/2, said he knew he would need to find other ways to make a difference given the Raiders were determined to keep him away from their quarterback.

“I've been doing punchouts back to (college at) Wisconsin,” Watt said. “I carry that with me, and it's something I continue to try to do. When you have a defense that flies around like this, you're able to take more chances. I don't always get the football, but when you do, it's big.”

Second-year Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell, making his first start in place of the benched Gardner Minshew, opened the game 4 for 4 for 55 yards to lead a touchdown drive. But O'Connell failed to build on that, finishing 27 of 40 for 227 yards, and his interception midway through the fourth quarter set up a Pittsburgh TD and 29-7 lead, much to the delight of thousands of Terrible Towel-waving fans who made this seem like a Steelers home game.

“It was a great first drive for us to go down and get points and a touchdown,” O'Connell said. "It was huge for momentum, but it takes 60 minutes.”

The Raiders played without their their top two receivers — Davante Adams (hamstring) and Jakobi Meyers (ankle) — as well as running back Zamir White (groin). Adams could be traded this season, though coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that he still considered Adams a Raider.

Pittsburgh let a victory get away a week ago when the Dallas Cowboys scored with 20 seconds left. There would be no such drama this time, largely thanks to the Raiders' mistakes.

“Winning is our business,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We hadn't been handling business, so it's good to get back to taking care of business. This is a normal state for us. It needs to be.”

A fumble gave the Steelers possession deep in Raiders territory late in the second half. A third-down stop by Las Vegas then was negated by a roughing-the-passer penalty, leading to Fields' 3-yard touchdown run that put the Steelers ahead 12-7.

In the third quarter, a blocked punt set up a Steelers field goal and another roughing call led to Harris' touchdown and 22-7 lead.

O'Connell's fourth-quarter interception that led to Fields' second TD run and ended any doubts.

Steelers: C Zach Frazier (ankle) left in the third period.

Raiders: G Dylan Parham (foot) was injured in the first half.

Steelers: Host the New York Jets on Sunday night.

Raiders: Visit the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell looks to pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Alex Bachman, bottom, catches a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) passes as Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (92) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, right, runs for a touchdown past Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, center, poses with running back Najee Harris, left, and tight end Darnell Washington, right, after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, right, dives for the end zone to score past Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, middle, is congratulated by running back Najee Harris (22) and tight end Darnell Washington after scoring against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) dives for a touchdown past Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones (18) during the second half of an NFL football game at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

SELVA DI VAL GARDENA, Italy (AP) — Marco Odermatt finally conquered the Saslong and the Swiss standout did it in style.

Odermatt put down what he called “one of my best” downhill runs on Saturday to win a World Cup race in Val Gardena as the three-time overall World Cup champion looked like back to his imperious best.

The 27-year-old beat Swiss teammate Franjo von Allmen by 0.45 seconds for his first victory at the resort in the Italian Dolomites. Odermatt had had four podium finishes there — including in Saturday’s super-G — but had never been better than second.

It was Odermatt’s 40th World Cup victory but only his third in downhill.

"It was one of my best downhills," Odermatt said. “If you want to win the downhill, you need the perfect run and today already on the top, which is not really my section, I could ski very well and finally I also jumped well, and then it was really perfect. So yeah, very happy with the run.”

It had also been a less than stellar start to the season for Odermatt — by his lofty standards — and he yelled out in joy several times after crossing the line, before taking off his skis and raising them up and letting out another long shout.

Before Odermatt came down it had been an incredibly tight race, with the top three separated by just 0.02. In the end, American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished third, with Nils Allègre of France missing out on what would have been only his second ever podium finish by one hundredth of a second.

It was Cochrane-Siegle's third podium after also finishing third in Val Gardena four years ago and winning the super-G in Bormio 10 days later.

“It was good skiing, it was fun,” he said. “Gardena is a really challenging hill to ski, in the sense of skiing fast. I’ve had runs here where I thought I’d put down a good one, and it’s been seconds out, so you really never know until you cross the finish line.

"I was just focusing on trying to carry speed as much as possible. When I ski my best I do that — keeping skiing really simple, back to basics.”

Odermatt won the downhill World Cup title last season, as well as the super-G, giant slalom and overall crystal globes.

The only previous downhill this season was in Beaver Creek, where Odermatt finished second to teammate Justin Murisier.

Odermatt moved 78 points above Murisier in the downhill standings and 50 points above Henrik Kristoffersen in the overall.

The circuit moves to nearby Alta Badia where there is a giant slalom on Sunday and a slalom the following day.

Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn finished 14th in a super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland to mark her return to World Cup skiing at age 40. Her comeback continues in a super-G in St. Moritz on Sunday.

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt listens to the national anthem on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, center, winner of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, celebrates on the podium with second-placed Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, left, and third-placed United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates on the podium after winning an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebratesat the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill, in Val Gardena, Italy, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)