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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Levi Damien

Raiders last opponent wins NFL Offensive Player of the Week, next opponent won DPOY

By any measure, Josh Allen had a rough opening week to the season. He threw three interceptions and the Bills lost to the Jets in overtime despite losing starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the fourth play of the game.

All that turned around for Allen last Sunday when the Bills welcomed the Raiders to town. Allen then went on a tear, throwing for three touchdowns and no interceptions while completing nearly 84% of his passes in a 38-10 route of the Raiders.

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That effort has won Allen Offensive Player of the Week honors for Week two.

There was a similar experience with the Steelers, who were flattened by the 49ers in the opener 30-7, but who rebounded in Week two to pull out a 22-9 win over the Browns.

Only the Steelers resurgence came on defense.

This effort was led by linebacker Alex Highsmith who had a pick six and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

That effort earned Highsmith Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week two.

Highsmith and the Steelers’ next stop is Las Vegas as they are the Raiders’ opponent in their home opener Week 3.

Coming with him is TJ Watt, who leads the NFL in sacks (four) and QB hits (nine) in the first two games of the season.

The offense for the Steelers is an entirely different story. As they have easily the worst offense in the league right now.

So, it will be a battle between the Raiders defense which leads to OPOY winners against the NFL’s worst offense and the Raiders’ so-so offense against the Steelers elite defense.

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