They got what they thought they might from Antonio Brown and more than they'd anticipated from DeAngelo Williams.

Not that anyone was necessarily expecting Brown to set franchise receiving records against the Raiders. And not that anyone doubted Williams would be able to run the ball effectively, even against Oakland's No. 2 run defense.

Brown was a critical element of the gameplan and the Steelers just kept going to him.

And Williams' contributions in the passing game turned out to be a cherry on top of a Sunday that saw the Steelers survive the Raiders, 38-35, at Heinz Field.

"It was a lot of one-on-one (coverage)," Brown said after setting Steelers' records for receptions (17), receiving yards (284) and yards from scrimmage (306). "We knew we were going to have to beat one-on-one matchups. We knew we were going to have to catch and run.

"They're going to come out and cover a receiver one-on-one, you have to take it personal and you have to win your matchup. I like one-on-one."

The Raiders liked it, too. Oakland had a habit of stuffing the box to support what had been the NFL's No. 2 run defense and of keeping free safety Charles Woodson in center field to allow him to read and react (Woodson entered play on Sunday afternoon with an NFL-best five interceptions).

The Steelers thought all along that was something they could exploit.

"We knew they got in some one-on-one matchups," head coach Mike Tomlin said. "There were going to be opportunities to run after the catch if the guy in coverage doesn't make the tackle.

"It's just general football things there, allowing the guy to do what he does, which is catch the ball."

Williams had 67 yards receiving in the first eight games then added 55 on two catches against the Raiders, an unanticipated complement to his 170 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Williams also caught a pass for a two-point conversion.

"That's something he's been focused on and working extremely hard on," Tomlin said. "We go to see signs of that today maybe we hadn't seen in the past.

Added Williams: "We take what the defense gives us. They left me open a couple times and Ben hit me."

BEN AGAIN: For the second time this season the Steelers saw quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (left foot) carted off.

And for the second time this season they found themselves trying to finish a game without him.

"It's absolutely concerning," Brown said. "Ben is a franchise quarterback and we live and die with him. Hopefully, he can be with us."

Tomlin said Roethlisberger was getting an MRI immediately after the game.

Landry Jones' relief effort included four completions on six attempts for 79 yards and a passer rating of 109.7.

The Steelers improved to 2-1 in games Jones has played (he relieved Mike Vick with the Steelers trailing, 10-6, in the third quarter of what became a 25-13 win over Arizona on Oct. 18 and started a 23-13 loss on Oct. 25 at Kansas City).

"We take these reps in practice with Ben, we take these reps with Landry just in case," Williams said. "You have to have a good insurance policy just in case these things happen. I think Landry is more than capable of doing the job."

Added guard Ramon Foster: "Landry knows what to expect from us. We know what to expect from him to. We've been hardened for it, man. Ben going out, nobody batted an eye, nobody panicked. Landry came in and did his job. He was throwin' it around like he was back in college."

Jones took the Steelers 79 yards in seven plays in 1:13 for what became the game-winning field goal with two seconds left in regulation.

"It's so cool being out here and playing," he said. "Oh man, it's just a great day.

"I feel good, ready to go."

THEY SAID IT: "The offense bailed us out. I didn't think our defense finished. To be up 14 points in the fourth (quarter) and give up a lead like that is unacceptable. We gotta learn from this and get better. It's a 'W but I don't think you can really think we're turning the corner when we're almost giving up 500 yards (440). I've never been a part of a team that can get happy about that." - Cam Heyward on surviving the Raiders.