Nov 7, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Thirty points per game. That was the Steelers’ goal this season.

And with the offensive skill-position players they had, it didn’t seem to be a pipe dream. Pittsburgh averaged more than that over the final 10 games of last season once wide receiver Martavis Bryant went into the lineup.

But at the midway point of the season, the Steelers are 4-4 and mediocre on offense, averaging 21 points per game.

Injuries and suspensions have robbed what looked to be one of the most potent offenses in the NFL of much of its bite.

Running back Le’Veon Bell, who suffered a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee last week in a 16-10 loss to Cincinnati, was the latest player to join the Steelers’ lengthy injured reserve list, which now includes 14 players. That list grows to 15 if center Maurkice Pouncey, who is designated to return, is included.

“Injuries are part of the game of football,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Obviously, we’ve played without Le’Veon already this year. We’ve got a lot of confidence in DeAngelo (Williams), that’s why we acquired him and brought him here. On a personal level, you feel for Le’Veon, but he’s a competitor and a professional. I’m sure he’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Can the Steelers do the same?

They’ll find out today when they host the Oakland Raiders (4-3) at Heinz Field.

Every game is important when you only play 16, but this one is especially important for the Steelers, who are only 1-4 against AFC opponents. That matches Tennessee and San Diego, a pair of last-place teams, for the worst record in conference play.

“We need to start winning some of these AFC games,” said Steelers linebacker Sean Spence.

“We have to start stacking some of those.”

Beating the Raiders, a team currently ahead of the Steelers in the AFC wild-card race, would be a good first step.

“We’re closing the chapter on the first half of the season, so that’s a good thing,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who returned to the lineup last week after missing 4 1/2 games with a sprained knee.

“We can move on and don’t have to talk about it, because there were some negatives in that first half. We can close it and move forward, be our best self.”

Roethlisberger clearly wasn’t at his best in the loss to the Bengals. He threw for 262 yards but also had three interceptions, two of which came in the fourth quarter and set up Cincinnati for its final 10 points.

That loss dropped Roethlisberger to 2-5 in his career in his first game back from an injury. The bad news is that his record in his second game back is 1-5. Four of those five losses have come on the road. The Steelers are 61-21 in Roethlisberger’s home starts, and will Bell out for the season they’ll need him to return to form quickly.

To average that 30 points per game for the season, the Steelers will need to score 312 points over the final eight games, an average of 39 per game. It’s a lofty goal to be sure, especially without Bell, the AFC’s leader in rushing and total yardage last season.

“I don’t see why anything’s changed and it shouldn’t,” Roethlisberger said.

They might need that many points against a red-hot Oakland team that is led by second-year quarterback Derek Carr and rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper Carr has passed for 15 touchdown passes in his last six games, and Cooper leads all rookies with 38 receptions for 565 yards. He is one of four Raiders who have three receiving touchdowns.

“They have a good offense; they’re ninth in the league in offense,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “They’re scoring some points and they’re 4-3 for a good reason.”

The Steelers have faced the league’s top three offensive teams – New England, Arizona and Cincinnati – and held each to its lowest point total of the season. Pittsburgh’s defense will get a boost from the return of defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who has missed the last two games with a sprained knee, and strong safety Will Allen, who missed three games with an ankle injury.

Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree leads all rookies with four sacks. … Oakland’s 39-year-old safety, Charles Woodsoon, is the NFL leader in interceptions with five. … The Steelers are plus-2 in turnover ratio. Oakland is plus-3.