SNF PREVIEW: PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BUFFALO BILLS

BY ADAM GREENE

There are no complaints this week and no late-Friday scheduling snafus due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the NFL reported no new cases Friday and all the Week 14 games are a go. That’s good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they travel to upstate New York to face off against the Buffalo Bills in what could easily be an AFC playoff preview on Sunday Night Football.

Pittsburgh has been shoved around the NFL schedule because of other team’s COVID-19 screw ups more than the baby stroller in The Untouchables. This has to be a celebratory time for them, playing a game on the date and time in which it was scheduled.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BUFFALO BILS (-1, O/U: 48)

Location: Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.

Kickoff: Dec. 13, 8:20 p.m. EST

Broadcast: NBC

THE HISTORY

In spite of both teams being in the AFC since 1970 and each enjoying decades-long success streaks, the Steelers and Bills have played just 26 times over the past 50 years, with Pittsburgh holding a 16-10 lead in the overall series. Three of those match ups came in the playoffs. Two of the postseason games happened during the Bills’ historic early 1990s run where the team played in, and lost, four consecutive Super Bowls. Buffalo’s 24-3 win over the Steelers came in their 1993 Super Bowl campaign.

Interestingly enough, after Buffalo missed the playoffs in 1995, they made a return in 1996 and Pittsburgh can lay claim to being the first team to beat the Jim Kelly-Marv Levy Bills in the postseason in from 1990 to 1996. The Steelers won that one 40-21. They too would go on to lose the Super Bowl to the Dallas Cowboys, the team that beat Buffalo in two of their four Super Bowl appearances.

Their first playoff meeting was on Dec. 22, 1974 during the classic Steelers dynasty era. Pittsburgh enjoyed the 32-14 victory in that game. They hold a 2-1 overall advantage in the playoff series. For now.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (11-1)

The Steelers have long made it a habit to play down to an opponent and last Monday they effed around and found out, watching their undefeated season hopes come to an end in a 23-17 loss to the Washington Football Team.

Ben Roethlisberger was 33 of 53 for 305 yards, two touchdowns and a pick in the loss. The team managed absolutely nothing on the ground, gaining a total of 21 yards rushing. James Washington caught two passes for 80 yards and a TD. Consistently underrated Diontae Johnson had eight grabs for 71 yards and a score.

BUFFALO BILLS (9-3)

While the Steelers unleashed their worst performance of the season last week, Josh Allen just might have tossed his hat into the franchise quarterback ring. Allen, already in the midst of an elite QB season, had what might be his best game as a pro. He completed 32 of 40 passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns against the San Francisco 49ers on the road. Cole Beasley caught nine passes for 130 yards and a TD. Stephon Diggs hauled in 10 for 92 yards.

THE PICK

The Steelers are unquestionably good, but they’ve feasted on an uncharacteristically weak schedule this season. That’s over with in this game. Buffalo is for real, they’re playing at home and they have a kid at QB who just might be the NEXT Ben Roethlisberger. I’m going with the upstarts. Bills 27, Steelers 24

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