Raiders' rally stuffed by Staley and Maddox

Staley's runs ate the clock to prevent the Raiders from one last-ditch effort.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Figures lie -- just ask the Oakland Raiders.
Despite producing 305 passing yards and limiting tailback Jerome Bettis to 1 yard on five carries, the Raiders walked away from Heinz Field on Sunday with plenty of frustration in their bags.
"It's always disappointing when you can't stop the run," Raiders inside linebacker Tim Johnson said after the Steelers' victory.
The former Youngstown State player, who made his sixth career start in his third season with Oakland, was referring to the 91 yards Duce Staley gained on 24 carries, just enough to gobble the clock to prevent the Raiders from one last-ditch effort.
Staley's yardage plus 142 more from quarterback Tommy Maddox's passing were enough for the Steelers to overcome a Raiders' rally from a 14-0 deficit.
"We've got to learn how to go for the jugular," said outside linebacker Clark Haggans after making five tackles in his first start replacing Jason Gildon.
Different attitudes
Two future Hall of Fame members had different attitudes after the 2004 season opener.
"We didn't play our best, but we still made some big plays," said Raiders wide receiver Jerry Rice after catching two passes for 22 yards.
Asked if he received as much playing time as he wanted, Rice said, "No comment -- I played enough. I don't want to get caught up in that."
Much happier was Bettis, who scored three 1-yard touchdowns.
"Hey, I'll take it," said Bettis of his goal line action.
"When you are in a role, you have to do what they ask you to do. If they want me to come in and stick it in [the end zone], I have to come in and stick it in."
Steelers coach Bill Cowher said going to Bettis near the end zone is a way of "keeping Jerome involved. In the preseason, we thought he ran well around the goal line."
Cowher was not pleased with how the Raiders exploited his defenders for big plays to get back into the game.
Failed to capitalize
"We had opportunities to put that team away and we didn't take advantage," Cowher said.
"On a fourth-and-[12] play, you have to get off the field. That was probably the most disappointing play of the game."
Cowher was referring to the Raiders' final offensive play when they rolled the dice with about five minutes to go.
Wide receiver Alvis Whitted streaked to the end zone to grab a 38-yard touchdown pass from Gannon to cut the Steelers' lead to 21-19. Whitted also caught the game-tying conversion pass.
"We showed a lot of resilience in coming back and we never did panic," Cowher said.
The Steelers won the game when they marched 54 yards on 10 plays to set up Jeff Reed's 42-yard field goal.
"This is the first one that really counts," Reed said. "All the preseason stuff [serves as] confidence boosters, but they don't really count for anything."
Another key play for the Raiders came late in the first half when wide receiver Doug Gabriel blew past safety Troy Polamalu for a 58-yard bomb from Gannon.
williams@vindy.com