Raiders Wait, Score 14 Late and Feel Great : Pro football: Shell’s team improves to 3-0 as defense shuts down Steelers and offense finally comes alive in the fourth quarter.

So what if you needed lifts to keep your eyes open in the first half? So what if the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense might never score a touchdown this season? So what if Jay Schroeder is killing you as a fantasy league passer? So what if Howie Long is hurt?

The Raiders just play defense, baby, and that’s good enough for a 3-0 record after Sunday’s 20-3 victory over the Steelers before 50,657 at the Coliseum.

Of course, it wasn’t always 20-3. In fact, the Raiders needed two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a vicious pass rush to remain one of five NFL unbeatens. For the second time in as many weeks, the Raider offense needed a wake-up call and a game on the line to get excited about advancing the ball. Remember, they scored twice last week in the waning minutes to pull out a victory over Seattle. All four offensive touchdowns scored this season have come in the fourth quarter.

“I really don’t care where they come as long as they come,” Schroeder said.

The Raiders broke a 6-3 game open on a one-yard Marcus Allen run with 11:03 remaining and a 66-yard pass play from Schroeder to Mervyn Fernandez with 8:32 left. That was plenty for the Raider defense, which sacked Bubby Brister six times for minus-38 yards to keep the Pittsburgh offense scoreless for the season.

“The second half was a problem for us,” Brister said. “It just got away from us.”

The first 30 minutes weren’t exactly fireworks either, even though Pittsburgh held the ball for 21 of 30 minutes. The Steelers produced 157 yards, a few nifty mid-field completions and one 31-yard field goal by Gary Anderson.

Pittsburgh didn’t know it played right into the Raiders’ hands.

“They didn’t get diddly in the second half,” Raider defensive end Greg Townsend said. “I think they ran too many plays and they got tired.”

What the Steelers ended up with after halftime was 51 net yards and a few headaches after the Raiders showed off some of their depth. No Howie Long? No problem. Rookie Aaron Wallace, who had a great summer but hasn’t needed laundry service since the opener, stepped into Long’s large shoes and sacked Brister twice, forced a fumble and added four tackles.

Jerry Robinson, Scott Davis, Mike Wise, and Townsend chipped in one sack each.

As a Raider defender, you do what you must.

“This is almost the third year we’ve had to rise to the occasion without Howie Long,” Townsend said. “He is a big part of our defense, but we know we’re still going to win games. Just because Howie’s gone doesn’t mean our defense can’t play well.”

Or inspire the Raider offense, which happened after back-to-back sacks by Townsend and Wallace snuffed another Steeler drive and gave the Raiders, leading, 6-3, the ball back at their 41 with 2:34 left in the third quarter.

Schroeder, who attempted only six passes in the first half, came alive on the drive, hitting Fernandez for 21 yards and a first down at the Pittsburgh 37. Greg Bell, who started the second half, had runs of six, nine and 11 yards, helping to the Raiders to first-and-goal at the one. After two plays failed, Coach Art Shell summoned Marcus Allen, famous for his dives into the end zone.

“The thinking was we had two shots left,” Shell said. “Who better to go over the top than Marcus Allen?”

Only Allen fooled everyone when he faked the dive and barreled into the line of scrimmage for the score.

“I sensed their guys were ready to jump over the top,” Allen said. “Our offensive line came off the ball well, (fullback) Steve Smith did a great job and I saw a crack.”

The Steelers went out in three plays on their next offensive series, Wallace breathing down Brister’s neck on his third-down incompletion.

When the Raiders got the ball back, it was lights out. On third and six at the 34, Schroeder aired it out for Fernandez, who beat zone coverage down the right side, eluded safety Larry Griffin, and scored on a 66-yard pass play.

Schroeder said the timing was right. The Steelers played a deep zone all day, forcing the Raiders into a conservative plan. In fact, the Raiders used a no-huddle offense for much of the first half and tried to run at the Steelers.

But this time, Fernandez was there.

“The safety stayed inside on Tim Brown,” Schroeder said. “If the safety slides out, we throw it down the middle to Tim Brown.”

The safety didn’t slide, and the Raiders had a touchdown

Again, Schroeder finished the game with unspectacular numbers, completing nine of 19 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. But he was not intercepted and did not put his team in a position to lose.

The Raiders ran only 17 plays in the first half, so there was at least an excuse for the slow start.

“I’m doing what I need to do for this football team to win,” Schroeder said. “Make some plays here and there, don’t turn the ball over and hey, if nothing’s there, throw it away.”

Schroeder has held up well amid the trade rumors that the Raiders have have a standing offer of a No. 1 draft choice and a conditional pick to New Orleans for holdout quarterback Bobby Hebert.

The problem now is trading an undefeated quarterback who apparently has the support of his coach.

“I keep telling you guys I think Jay Schroeder is doing an outstanding job,” Shell said.

Maybe Shell’s telling the wrong guys.

Raider Notes

More bad news for the Raider defense. Starting left cornerback Garry Lewis suffered a broken collar bone in the first half and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks. Lewis, the seventh-round rookie from Alcorn State, had won the starting job this summer from Terry McDaniel. With McDaniel moving back to left corner, it opens a roster spot for veteran safety Vann McElroy, whose two-week exemption expires today. . . . Linebacker Aaron Wallace suffered a bruised shoulder but is expected to play next week. . . . Backup quarterback Steve Beuerlein, activated this week after receiving a two-week roster exemption, was not in uniform Sunday. Nor was was tackle Tim Rother.

Pittsburgh quarterback Bubby Brister completed 19 of 28 passes for 156 yards but his longest pass was only 14 yards. He completed 11 consecutive passes in one stretch. . . . Marcus Allen started at tailback and led the Raiders with 44 yards in 11 carries. Allen also was intercepted when he attempted a half-back pass to Willie Gault in the second quarter. . . . Mervyn Fernandez led all Raider receivers with five catches for 130 yards. No other receiver had more than one catch. . . . Tim Brown added a 39-yard punt return late in the game. . . . Pittsburgh safety Rod Woodson was ejected late in the game when he threw a punch at Raider tackle James FitzPatrick. Both teams were penalized for roughness. . . . Art Shell is now 8-0 at the Coliseum.