Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- This game looks like it will have severe weather issues as the forecasts call for cold weather, potentially some snow, and severe winds.
- Both teams have been in playoff mode for a while now as they had to fight to the final game of the season to get into the wild AFC.
- Buffalo is on a five game winning streak since their Week 13 bye, with four of those wins being within one possession.
- Pittsburgh won three straight games to get into the playoffs, with all of those wins coming against teams that finished the season with a winning record.
- All-pro Steelers defensive end TJ Watt will miss this game with a knee injury.
- Pittsburgh is the only team playing this weekend with an implied team total of under 20 points.
How Pittsburgh Will Try To Win ::
The Steelers have reverted to their roots this season as a smash-mouth football team that relies primarily on its running game and defense to keep it competitive. They have ridden their dynamic running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren into the AFC playoffs and are a team that is heating up at the right time. They made a change at quarterback that was necessitated by an injury to Kenny Pickett but it now looks like it was a blessing in disguise. Pittsburgh is on a three game winning streak after beating the Bengals, Seahawks, and Ravens with Mason Rudolph under center. It was announced this week that Rudolph will remain as the Steelers starter for the playoffs despite Pickett being back to full health.
The Steelers rank 29th in pass rate over expectation (PROE) and 26th in raw pace of play. They are a run-based and methodical offense. Mason Rudolph torched the Bengals and had success against the Seahawks as well, but Buffalo’s defense has been playing great recently and the high winds are unlikely to allow Rudolph much downfield success. Pittsburgh managed to have a -20 point differential this season despite a 10-7 record. They have by all accounts overachieved based on that statistic and several other metrics. They have been able to do this by simply playing conservatively and trying to out-execute their opponents – keeping themselves in games and letting their opponents beat themselves. The matchup here with the Bills is really the dream for Pittsburgh despite how strong Buffalo looks on paper. Buffalo’s flaw is making critical mistakes – whether it be turnovers or game management – that cost them games that they should win. The weather should keep this game from turning into a shootout through the air so Pittsburgh should be able to rely on their defense – even without TJ Watt- to keep this game within reach and feel comfortable pounding the rock and hoping to give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter. Expect an extremely run-heavy approach from Pittsburgh with their few pass attempts likely to be within a few yards of the line of scrimmage against the zone heavy coverage scheme of the Bills and focusing on keeping Mason Rudolph from turning the ball over or taking other negative plays. The Steelers offensive mindset in this game is going to be moving the ball a little bit at a time and just trying to pick up first downs and keep the clock moving. They want to control field position and not give Buffalo any easy points.
You must be logged in to view collective notes about a game.
You must be logged in to add notes about a game.