I would argue that the Buffalo Bills are probably the hottest team in the NFL right now. After starting the season 6-6 with a struggling team that ultimately fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, the team managed to close the season on a five game winning streak and win the AFC East with an 11-6 record. While the game has won them a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the weather brings back memories of the 2023 playoff game that allowed Buffalo to be embarrassed at home by the Cincinnati Bengals. Buffalo will need to figure out ways to prevent a similar outcome.
Bills Offensive Explosion will Need to Carry Over into Snow
While quarterback Josh Allen has arguably been the best player in the National Football League at times, he has also become known for a gunslinger attitude that generates a significant quantity of turnovers. Even with the turnovers, Allen secured a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 91.3 which was best in the NFL during the 2023 season. The biggest key to the game for Buffalo will be to keep Allen making the remarkable plays that he is capable of while avoiding some of the sloppy interceptions that have plagued his game this season.
Another important part of playing under the intense conditions that will still exist in Buffalo will be for the team to get the running game involved. At points this season, it has felt like the Josh Allen Show and that will need to change for the team to be successful against elite competition.
Buffalo will need to rely on running back James Cook to make big plays against a stout Pittsburgh defense to keep Allen from feeling the need to do everything himself. This would also slow down the elite Pittsburgh pass rush and keep Allen out of the hands of the stout Pittsburgh pass rush. Even without elite pass rusher T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh always has solid edge rushers in reserve.
Bills’ Young Defense Needs to Make an Impact
It is no secret that Pittsburgh is most dangerous on the defensive side of the ball so the best way for Buffalo to clinch this game early would be to generate mistakes from a struggling Pittsburgh offense. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver has emerged as an elite interior rusher for Buffalo as he has stockpiled eleven sacks this season and will be huge in squeezing the pocket against quarterback Mason Rudolph. If Buffalo can put pressure on the Pittsburgh offense, receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens have been known to cause drama that would spiral the team into a tailspin.
Another key to the game will be Buffalo’s proven playmakers and new assets generating turnovers on the backend. Pittsburgh will likely attempt a conservative gameplan given their historic proclivity to the running game as well as possible negative impacts on the passing game from the weather. but generating turnovers when Pittsburgh does go to the air will be huge. Cornerback Rasul Douglas has performed at a high level since he was acquired from the Green Bay Packers and will be a huge component to shutting down Pickens.
In summary, Buffalo is without a doubt the better team with an elite quarterback and young playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. The only thing that can stop Buffalo in this game is Buffalo as Pittsburgh will surely focus their gameplan around trying to generate turnovers from the sloppy play of Allen. If Buffalo can manage to ward off the elite defensive play of Pittsburgh, they have a wide open run into the playoffs after Kansas City will be feeling the effects of a frigid wildcard game in the Midwest.
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