Handing Out Steelers Game Balls for the Week 3 Matchup vs. Oakland Raiders

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers disappointingly fell to 1-2 Sunday when they lost a shootout 34-31 to the Oakland Raiders.

Although the offense lost two fumbles in the game, I put most of the blame on the defense not being able to get a stop when they needed it.

Despite the loss, the Steelers didn’t play a terrible game, and here are seven game balls I’d give out for the performance in Week 3.

LaMarr Woodley

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

LaMarr Woodley gets a game ball just because he was the Steelers entire pass rush with four tackles and one sack.

No one else on the defense really did anything during the game and Carson Palmer pretty much got whatever he wanted in the fourth quarter.

Woodley now has two sacks on the season, which pushes the Steelers total up to a poultry five in the first three games of the season.

Ryan Clark

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

This will be the last defender on this list because of another second half collapse, and Ryan Clark gets this game ball for his first quarter interception.

This was the Steelers first interception of the season on Carson Palmer’s first pass of the game on a deep throw down the middle of the field.

Ryan Clark’s presence was a big boost for the Steelers win in Week 2 versus New York, and although they didn’t give up a lot of yards against the Raiders, they still couldn’t get off the field in the second half.

Baron Batch

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Baron Batch had not been much of a factor through the Steelers’ first two games of the season on offense.

Batch’s final stats aren’t gaudy—with 12 rushing yards on four carries and two catches for 20 receiving yards—but it was good to see him involved in the offense.

There was a lot of hype on Batch after impressing as a rookie, and I think he earned himself some more touches in the football with this performance.

Offensive Line

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The offensive line was flagged about 100 times in the game, and they still can’t run block to save their lives. However, they had a very good game in pass protection.

Even without the running game, Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t on his back the entire game and was only sacked once.

With David DeCastro still not returning for at least five to six more weeks, the offensive line is at least improving every week in not getting Ben killed.

Mike Wallace

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Three games into the season, Mike Wallace caught his third touchdown of the season in the third quarter against the Raiders.

There was a lot of worrying going on with Steelers’ fans before the season on how Wallace would look with no preseason, and he has been just fine.

Wallace has not broken off one of his huge deep catches where he just burns the entire defense, but his presence on the field always helps the Steelers offense.

Heath Miller

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

We all thought that Todd Haley would re-involve the tight end into the Steelers offense, and Heath Miller now has four touchdowns in the first three games.

The four touchdowns is more than Heath has had in a season since he ended with six during the 2009 season.

With the improved offensive line and new offense, Heath Miller is already a huge part of the offense and should continue throughout the year.

Ben Roethlisberger

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Ben Roethlisberger had another great game against the Raiders with 384 yards and four touchdowns while completing over 70 percent of his passes.

The Steelers have not been able to run the ball at all this season, which has left Ben to carry the offense more than he ever has in previous years.

After starting the season slow against the Broncos, Ben now has two straight games completing over 70 percent of his passes and with a passer rating over 120.