Carr throws for two TDs as Raiders beat Steelers

PITTSBURGH — Derek Carr threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns, including a 61-yard strike to Henry Ruggs midway through the fourth quarter, and the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-17 on Sunday.

Carr completed 28 of 37 passes against a Pittsburgh defence that finished the game without a handful of starters, including All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who exited in the second quarter with a groin injury.

The Steelers (1-1) lost defensive tackle Tyson Alualu in the first quarter and played the entire game without veteran cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush, both of whom were inactive with groin injuries of their own.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 295 yards for Pittsburgh, including a 25-yard catch-andrun early in the fourth quarter that rookie running back Najee Harris turned into the first touchdown of his career.

The Raiders (2-0) responded immediately.

Carr uncorked a rainbow down the middle of the field, giving Ruggs plenty of time to run away from Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ahkello Witherspoon and into the end zone.

RAMS 27, COLTS 24

Matthew Stafford led Los Angeles on two late scoring drives and Matt Gay made a tiebreaking 38-yard field goal with 2:23 to play.

The Rams have won three straight in this series and have taken all five road openers under coach Sean McVay.

Stafford wasn’t as proficient as he was in the season-opening victory over Chicago but he did play well — even after appearing to hit his right thumb on the helmet of Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in the first half. He finished 19 of 30 for 278 yards, two TD passes and one interception.

BROWNS 31, TEXANS 21

Baker Mayfield came back after hurting his left shoulder to throw a touchdown pass and run for a TD, leading Cleveland to the victory.

Nick Chubb had a 26-yard touchdown run for the Browns (1-1), who bounced back from a Week 1 loss at Kansas City to thrill their first capacity home crowd since 2019.

Mayfield went 10 for 10 after a first-half interception — and injuring his non-throwing shoulder while making the tackle on the play — and finished 19 of 21 for 213 yards.

Chubb had 95 yards on 11 carries.

BEARS 20, BENGALS 17

Justin Fields played the second half after Andy Dalton exited with a knee injury against his former team, and the rookie quarterback used Chicago’s stellar defensive performance to direct the Bears to their first win of the season.

Roquan Smith returned an interception 53 yards for his first career touchdown, one of three straight picks thrown by Joe Burrow.

The Bears (1-1) hung on for their third straight win over Cincinnati (1-1).

Fields, the No. 11 overall draft pick, completed just 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards.