Raiders running back Darren McFadden drives for some of his 113 yards rushing in a 34-31 victory over the Steelers on Sunday. (US Presswire)

The Oakland Raiders had plenty of chances to fold Sunday in the second half against Pittsburgh. They trailed 24-14 early in the third quarter and 31-21 later in the quarter.

Each time they fought back, and when Sebastian Janikowski nailed a 43-yard field goal on the game’s final play, the Raiders had a 34-31 victory -- rookie coach Dennis Allen’s first win.

The Raiders are 1-2 and avoided digging a hole that only a handful of teams have escaped to reach the playoffs.

Pittsburgh dropped to 1-2, self-destructing with 10 penalties, two lost fumbles and wasting a huge game by QB Ben Roethlisberger.

When the game turned: Trailing 31-21, the Raiders went 80 yards in 11 plays early in the fourth quarter for a touchdown with Carson Palmer hitting Denarius Moore for a 6-yard TD. Five plays earlier in that drive, Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey was knocked out in the end zone and suffered a concussion on what appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit by S Ryan Mundy. As he was carted off the field and taken to a local hospital, he was able to talk and move his extremities. But the Raiders still had to refocus in a hurry. That’s exactly what they did.

Highlight moments: Early in the first quarter, Raiders RB Darren McFadden ran 64 yards for a touchdown, the second-longest run in his career. He hit a big hole over right guard then made Mundy miss and outran the rest of the Steelers’ defense. … Early in the third quarter, Roethlisberger scrambled left, then right, buying time before throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to WR Mike Wallace, who was wide open in the back in the end zone.

Top-shelf performances: Steelers QB Roethlisberger –-- 36 of 49 for 384 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 123.2 passer rating; Raiders RB McFadden -- 18 carries for 113 yards and a 64-yard TD; Steelers WR Mike -- 8 catches for 123 yards and a TD; Steelers TE Heath Miller -- 8 catches for 60 yards and two TDs; Raiders QB Palmer -- 24 of 36 for 209 yards, three TDs, an INT and a passer rating of 103.7.

What they said about the injury to Darrius Heyward-Bey:

• Raiders QB Palmer -- “It’s tough. I knew it was going to be a collision play, a tough play that we worked on a lot. But our hearts and prayers go out to him. I know it’s tough with his mom back home in D.C. watching that. But the word out of the hospital is he’s doing well. He’s moving. So we’re going to keep praying.”

• Steelers S Mundy -- “I didn't go in there trying to hit him with my helmet. Things like that happen so fast. He may have come down to the level of my helmet. I have to see the replay, I don't know.”

Numbers you should know: The Raiders committed just three penalties for 25 yards. Last year they set NFL single-season records for penalties and penalty yards. Pittsburgh was penalized 10 times for 81 yards. A penalty nullified Antonio Brown’s 72-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Injury update: Heyward-Bey was in stable condition and was going to spend the night at Eden Medical Center in Oakland for observation, the Raiders announced. Raiders TE Brandon Myers suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter and will be monitored. WR Rod Streater was poked in the eye, but Dennis Allen said it was a minor injury.

Going forward: The Raiders: hit the road to face Denver and QB Peyton Manning before a Week 5 bye. They’ve played well recently in Denver, and they’ll be riding high after Sunday’s win. The Steelers: have a bye this week then will try to get back on track at home against Philadelphia. After that they have a Thursday night game at Tennessee followed by another road game at Cincinnati. Not easy.

Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter: @CBSRaiders.