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Steelers vs. Bills: Week 13 staff picks
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The Pittsburgh Steelers enter Week 13 with an opportunity to reclaim first place in the AFC North. After the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh holds the division lead as it stands, but it will give it right back to Baltimore with a loss. Can they defeat the Buffalo Bills at home? Our staff weighs in.
Mike Nicastro: The Steelers and Bills find themselves in very similar situations entering the home stretch. Both teams are trending in opposite directions at the wrong time of year. Plenty of that has to do with injuries.
On Sunday, the Bills will be missing both of their starting tackles, along with their captain linebacker Terrel Bernard, to name a few. The Steelers will be without Broderick Jones and Derrick Harmon, but Aaron Rodgers is set to return from a left wrist fracture. How effective he will be is anyone’s guess.
I’d anticipate a heavy dose of QB power runs from Buffalo, and James Cook should have his way with a leaky defensive line. The Steelers will also likely have success on the ground against a banged up Bills front.
It feels like Josh Allen will have to be Superman for the Bills to pull this game out on the road. The good news for Buffalo?
He is.
This feels like a true coin toss, and when in doubt, go with the star quarterback. Bills 24, Steelers 21.
Ryan Parish: It’s a must-win for the Steelers. Baltimore dropping a game against Cincinnati was exactly the break the Steelers needed. On paper, the Steelers’ run game should fare well against a Buffalo defense that has struggled against the run all year.
Still, this Steelers team doesn’t instill a lot of faith, and I don’t think we should be too upset if their struggles lead to a better draft pick. Buffalo 31, Pittsburgh 20.
Joey Bray: The Bills will be without both of their starting tackles in this game. These are the games you would expect your highly paid edge rushers to dominate. Alex Highsmith is back in the lineup, and we should expect both him and T.J. Watt to have massive days.
Aaron Rodgers will start for Pittsburgh after missing last week, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about a 41-year-old playing with a fractured left wrist. The Bills’ defense has been largely uninspiring this season, so I have a little bit of faith that the offense can at least put up its averages.
The key to the game will obviously be Josh Allen. The Steelers’ highest-paid defensive unit will get another test against one of the most talented quarterbacks the game has ever seen. Ultimately, I can’t trust the Steelers right now with their all-around struggles, plus a quarterback with a fractured wrist. Bills 35, Steelers 24.
Ryland Bickley: This Bills team isn’t as formidable as years past, and I’d also argue the Steelers are a bit better than everyone seems to think following last week’s loss to the Bears.
The Pittsburgh ground game should be able to get something going against a poor Buffalo rushing defense, but Josh Allen and James Cook are on the other side of the ball. I have the Bills winning this one, 27-20.
Alex Hanczar: Lots of variables coming into this game, including injuries to the Bills’ O-line, injuries all around for the Steelers, and massive playoff implications
Despite a missed opportunity in Chicago last week, the Steelers once again hold fate in their hands as they prepare for the ultra-talented Buffalo squad. While they may not resemble the powerhouse ball club of years past, everyone knows what you’re getting when you play Josh Allen and the Bills: a strong pass game, a stellar run game, and a stingy defense.
With Baltimore’s loss on Thursday, Pittsburgh can jump back into the driver’s seat of the AFC North. It is never easy with a foe that includes the reigning MVP and co. However, I do believe the Steelers are up for the task with massive levels of importance for the 4:25 kick. Steelers, 27, Bills, 26.
Austin Bechtold: I don’t feel good about this game at all, despite Buffalo missing both its tackles. The Steelers and Bills are two fairly even teams, except at quarterback. Having Aaron Rodgers back will certainly help, but questions remain about whether they can protect him with Jones out.
The Bills have the No. 1 rushing offense in the NFL, and the Steelers are missing Derrick Harmon. This game is going to be close, and I think the winner will go to the playoffs, but it won’t be the Steelers on Sunday, with Josh Allen being the biggest difference. Bills 24, Steelers 21.
Jarrett Bailey: When you have low expectations, it’s much more difficult to be disappointed. The Bills have two players that can hurt you – Josh Allen and James Cook. And while both of Buffalo’s starting tackles are out with injury, I fully expect Buffalo to have a run-heavy attack to take the load off Allen.
The Steelers aren’t Tennessee Titans bad, but they certainly aren’t in the echelon of teams that matter. This won’t be a blowout, but the result will never be in question. Bills 24, Steelers 17.
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Source: https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...-week-13-staff-picks-josh-allen-aaron-rodgers