Bills @ Steelers: Official Game Thread

In week 14, the Steelers defeated the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Now the Steelers travel back to Heinz Field to play the Bills.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers need to play a complete game (Offense, Defense, Special Teams for 60 min.).
The Steelers defense needs to pressure Josh Allen when passing and contain his rushing (like they did with Kyler Murray).
The Steelers defense needs to stop the run.
The Steelers need to run the ball effectively and often. If James Conner can't go, then Benny Snell needs to step up.
Devlin "Duck" Hodges needs to continue to make quick, good decisions.
The Steelers need to score TDs when in the red zone (and when not).
The Steelers need to protect the ball. They need to win the turnover battle.
Alejandro Villanueva, Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro, and Matt Feiler need to play well as a unit.


From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Bills Week 15 Projected Inactive List

JuJu Smith-Schuster – While Smith-Schuster claims he did not have a setback on Thursday, he did go from starting the week likely to play against the Bills Sunday night to officially being ruled out for the contest on the Friday injury report after failing to practice earlier in the day. This will mark the fourth consecutive game that Smith-Schuster has missed since getting injured in Week 11 and we’ll have to wait and see if he can make it back for the team’s Week 16 road game. He might have played his last down of 2019 unless the Steelers make it to the playoffs. That knee of Smith-Schuster’s just isn’t ready yet.

Vance McDonald – The Steelers top tight end suffered a concussion last Sunday and while he was able to be a limited practice participant on Thursday, he failed to work on Friday and thus was officially ruled out for the Sunday night game against the Bills on the team’s injury report. McDonald seemingly has yet to clear conclusion protocol. With McDonald sidelined, look for rookie tight end Zach Gentry to dress Sunday night against the Bills to back up fellow tight end Nick Vannett.

Paxton Lynch – Lynch remains the Steelers No. 3 quarterback on the team’s depth chart and that’s not a bit surprising. That’s going to remain the case moving forward barring injuries. Lynch has only dressed for one game this season and that was in Week 6 when he backed up Devlin Hodges due to Mason Rudolph being sidelined for that contest with a concussion. Hodges will start again on Sunday night against the Bills at Heinz Field and Rudolph will back him up again once again.

Chukwuma Okorafor – The Steelers young tackle hasn’t been active for very many games this season. The last time he did dress for a game was way back in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams, a game he started. There’s seemingly no path for Okorafor to get a helmet Sunday night against the Bills so expect him to be one of the team’s seven inactive players for a fifth-consecutive week.

Tuzar Skipper – Skipper has been inactive for every game since returning to the Steelers 53-man roster in November and he’s unlikely to begin dressing on Sunday night against the Bills. With outside linebackers Anthony Chickillo and Olasunkanmi Adeniyi both expected to dress once again and serve as backups and special teams contributors on Sunday night against the Bills, look for Skipper to once again be one of the team’s seven inactive players.Artie Burns – Burns hasn’t dressed for the Steelers last three games and last Sunday he was even a healthy scratch as rookie cornerback Justin Layne was given a helmet over him. That’s not a great sign for Burns entering the final few games of the regular season so it’s easy to predict he’ll likely be one of the team’s Sunday night inactives against the Bills. If for some reason Burns does get a helmet Sunday night, it would likely come at Layne’s expense.

Kerrith Whyte Jr. – Running back James Conner ended the week listed as questionable on the Steelers Friday injury report. He was also listed as a full practice participant all three days so that makes him a tough player to gauge when it comes to Sunday based on his early-week comments. Conner’s tone earlier in the week on his radio show when he talked about his potential return to the field Sunday night against the Bills wasn’t great and he certainly didn’t sound like a player that knew he would play against the Bills. I really do not know which way this last inactive will go. Assuming Conner does play, either Whyte or Trey Edmunds are likely to be down. Edmunds, however, is a core special teams player. Whyte, however, while he has returned some kickoffs, is not seeing the field on offense much. I’ll “guess” that Conner will be up Sunday night and that Whyte will down. That said, I really won’t be surprised if Conner sits. Edmunds also has a tiny shot at being the odd man out if Conner is a go. If Whyte is down, either Johnny Holton or Diontae Johnson can return kickoffs.

 

Keys to the game:
Arthur Moats: Containing Josh Allen
Tunch Ilkin: Stop The Run
Missi Matthews: Start Fast

 

MFW

 

I've been a bit leary of the Steeler's last two games. The Browns are surging and Pittsburgh struggles out west. Now, here I am with an upbeat feel about this game. What does that say? Should I be leary because I'm upbeat? Wouldn't that make me leary? Screw it. I'm taking the the Steelers to win. Josh Allen has struggled against strong blitzing teams and the Steelers do well vs mobile QBs this year. Allen can turn the ball over alot and I think they get to him.

I think the Steelers are 6-0 vs the Bills since 2000. I'll have to double check. It's at home too. Two great Ds slugging it out.

Steelers 17
Bills 13

I hope.

 

Beloved Dirk,
I had the same feeling. I feel really good about a win tonight but more scary feeling than last 2 games. It’s the most excited I’ve been to watch them play all season.

Here we go.

 

At least we aren't unleashing it.

 

Titans lose. Benefits both teams tonight.

 

Get Afflac it pays to get hurt. Ben had Afflac

 

A 7 and out

 

I’m not liking the tempo of this game

 

it appears they unleashed the Duck to chuck downfield more, not sure if I agree with that.

Connor or Samuels need to get some catches underneath

 

Gotta get some mo points

 

These refs are INSANE!!! Offsides unabated to the QB and they don't blow the play dead. Instead they let him get wrapped up and held up in a standing sack forever and then allow Josh Allen to get slammed to the ground and hit his head on the turf!

 

I was surprised they didn't blow it dead.

 

And on next play they miss the LT coming out of his stance to early

 

MFW

 

Boy oh boy running a wild cat with a RB that’s been out 5 of last 6 games that hasn’t run the play all year on 1st and goal is ludicrious. They are getting too cute

too many mistakes - fumbles INT and shank punt

 

I am trying my defibrillator just got tested. It's calibrated good.