Week 15: Bills @ Steelers

[DesertSteel]

I believe with a win the Steelers move into the 5 hole. I'm not seeing any way the the Steelers lose this game.

Steelers 23-19

[86WARD]

Because it’s at home, I think they have a much, MUCH better chance...

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I think its gonna be something like 12-9 or maybe 3-2. Both defenses are playing really well and both offenses seem predicated on run game, short passing and taking care of the football.

The Bills O line looked good yesterday and their Defense is for real. Lotlouleli, Jerry Hughes, Tremaine Edmunds, Kwon Alexander, TreDeveous White, Ed Oliver.....and they look a bit like those old Eagles Jim Johnson defenses, which makes sense. Should be a 15 round, ugly toe to toe slugfest. The kind that will result in minimal fantasy football numbers.

[Rotorhead]

I am hoping for a win, think this will be a low scoring game, but I think our Def is better and that will be the deciding factor.

[AtlantaDan]

Steelers 1&1/2 point favorites - no surprise the over/under is low at 37

https://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/las-vegas/

[Rotorhead]

Playing with the playoff machine, if we beat the Bills, we are in. Otherwise there are too many options between the titans and Houston. Also, if we beat the Bills and they lose to the Pats (that is pretty iffy at this point) then we move up to the 5 seed. This is the biggest game of the year for us at this point!

[DesertSteel]

Playing with the playoff machine, if we beat the Bills, we are in. Otherwise there are too many options between the titans and Houston. Also, if we beat the Bills and they lose to the Pats (that is pretty iffy at this point) then we move up to the 5 seed. This is the biggest game of the year for us at this point!
If we beat the Bills, we're both 9-5 with us having the head to head. Why would we need them to lose to the Pats to have the #5?

[tube517]

I think its gonna be something like 12-9 or maybe 3-2. Both defenses are playing really well and both offenses seem predicated on run game, short passing and taking care of the football.

The Bills O line looked good yesterday and their Defense is for real. Lotlouleli, Jerry Hughes, Tremaine Edmunds, Kwon Alexander, TreDeveous White, Ed Oliver.....and they look a bit like those old Eagles Jim Johnson defenses, which makes sense. Should be a 15 round, ugly toe to toe slugfest. The kind that will result in minimal fantasy football numbers.

Might be some precipitation (rain/snow) in this game.

Franco will have 93 yards rushing. The Juice will have 32 carries for 123 yards and his glove will fall out of his pocket on the way to a 1st down during the 3rd quarter.

Steelers 9-6 in OT.

[Fire Goodell]

If we beat the Bills, we're both 9-5 with us having the head to head. Why would we need them to lose to the Pats to have the #5?

People are writing off week 17 as an automatic loss even though we were in position to beat the Ravens when we had played them. They don't really scare me honestly, I think our team has a chance to take them.

Anyway for this week, I think Duck Hodges proves he's the man and throws 3 TD's and zero turnovers. Steelers 24 - 16

[DesertSteel]

People are writing off week 17 as an automatic loss even though we were in position to beat the Ravens when we had played them. They don't really scare me honestly, I think our team has a chance to take them.

Anyway for this week, I think Duck Hodges proves he's the man and throws 3 TD's and zero turnovers. Steelers 24 - 16
I agree re the Ravens. Even with a loss, I think we finish 10-6 and the Bills do no better. Either 5 or 6, I just want to go to the dance.

[86WARD]

People are writing off week 17 as an automatic loss even though we were in position to beat the Ravens when we had played them. They don't really scare me honestly, I think our team has a chance to take them.

Anyway for this week, I think Duck Hodges proves he's the man and throws 3 TD's and zero turnovers. Steelers 24 - 16

If they can contain Jackson’s feet, they have as much a chance as anybody. This week vs. the Bills will be a smaller test. Allen loves to get up and go...

[Fire Goodell]

If they can contain Jackson’s feet, they have as much a chance as anybody. This week vs. the Bills will be a smaller test. Allen loves to get up and go...

Our defense has the team speed to contain him. It's honestly Ingram that worries me more than Jackson. If the Steelers defense has a weakness I think those power runners are it. However, they can match speed for speed.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Might be some precipitation (rain/snow) in this game.

Franco will have 93 yards rushing. The Juice will have 32 carries for 123 yards and his glove will fall out of his pocket on the way to a 1st down during the 3rd quarter.

Steelers 9-6 in OT.

Nice call....I don't see the Juice rushing for much in the Bruno Maglia shoes in bad weather. Worried a bit if Joe Ferguson has a big game though.

[AtlantaDan]

If they can contain Jackson’s feet, they have as much a chance as anybody. This week vs. the Bills will be a smaller test. Allen loves to get up and go...

More likely Steelers will be trying to contain RGIII's feet for a big part of the game - from Bill Barnwell's playoffs outlook column this morning where he guesses Steelers will be the #6 seed

There's a decent chance that Baltimore will have clinched home-field advantage, which would likely mean limited snaps from MVP favorite Lamar Jackson (https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3916387/lamar-jackson). The last time John Harbaugh had a chance to sit his stars in Week 17 was in 2012, when he left the likes of Ray Lewis, Marshal Yanda (https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/10530/marshal-yanda) and Anquan Boldin inactive and sat down Joe Flacco and Ed Reed by the end of the first quarter. That season ended with a Super Bowl victory, so I would expect Harbaugh to be similarly conservative if he has the chance in 2019, even if it pushes the Ravens' archrivals into the postseason.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28255391/the-race-afc-2-seed-alive-barnwell-next-2019-nfl-playoffs-involved

[EzraTank]

Playing with the playoff machine, if we beat the Bills, we are in. Otherwise there are too many options between the titans and Houston. Also, if we beat the Bills and they lose to the Pats (that is pretty iffy at this point) then we move up to the 5 seed. This is the biggest game of the year for us at this point!

This. If we win I see us going 10-6 and being the #5 seed which probably means a visit to KC or Houston. I'll take it.

[AtlantaDan]

1204006743589761024

[Fire Goodell]

1204006743589761024

I hear Conner too, this would be perfect timing

[Rotorhead]

I hear Conner too, this would be perfect timing

Only as long as he is 100%, he came back to soon before and didn’t last the game.

[teegre]

I hope that both teams wear their Color Rush jerseys.

The Bills wore theirs just this past week; so, it’s unlikely for them. That said, if the Steelers wear their “all black”, the Bills could wear their “all white”... and Disney can sponsor the game as the Stormtrooper Bowl (in preparation for the release of The Rise of Skywalker on the 19th).

Of course, a Stormtrooper Bowl would mean a ton of missed shots. :toofunny: Then again, Obi Tom Linobi could convince Josh Allen to throw a few picks: “The players in white are not the receivers you’re looking for.”

[DesertSteel]

Only as long as he is 100%, he came back to soon before and didn’t last the game.
Conner is never going to be 100%.

[AtlantaDan]

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[Squeegee Thompson]

This one worries me. The Bills (Josh Allen in particular) looked like a steaming pile of dog crap against Baltimore, and their playoffs could slip away if they don't right the ship quickly. Allen is just mobile enough to keep plays alive, and their defense is legit.

After winning the game in Arizona everyone thought would be a trap game, Pittsburgh has their letdown game this week. Allen bounces back from the beating he took by Baltimore, and Duck comes back to earth looking like a mere mortal QB against a very good defense.

20-16 Bills. I'll gladly eat crow if I'm wrong.

[Fire Goodell]

Not really concerned with Allen's mobility, we've faced many this year. Our defense has seen Jackson, Wilson, Mayfield x2, and Murray. They might know a thing or two about containing mobile QB's

[tube517]

Forgot about the family affair for this game.

The Edmunds Bowl

[DesertSteel]

This one worries me.
They all worry me when the actual game starts. Until then, I'm usually confident.

[tube517]

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[Fire Goodell]

The color rush uni's should be their official ones, those are badass

[j-d-s]

I still like the bumblebee jerseys :chuckle:.

[vasteeler]

I still like the bumblebee jerseys :chuckle:.

I love the bumblebees!

[teegre]

1204539359380332546

:willy: YES!!! :willy:

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The color rush uni's should be their official ones, those are badass

I like traditions and all... but... I wouldn’t be against it.

(Because, they certainly do indeed look BADASS!!!)

[EzraTank]

I'm surprised they never did a yellow jersey with black pants (like the 1979 Pirates).

[tube517]

I'm surprised they never did a yellow jersey with black pants (like the 1979 Pirates).

Like the top right one in this concept photo.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSr5iWsGzyzt9TIgND1nCq11S07FZt2v Z7lUxRbhQ2b5I7m_Vsl&s

[EzraTank]

Yep, either one looks cool (with white pants).

[Moose]

I HATE the bumblebees uniform......just doesn't look professional and hard to take them serious....I just can't stop laughing at them.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

I HATE the bumblebees uniform......just doesn't look professional and hard to take them serious....I just can't stop laughing at them. I love them for the fact they usually always win when wearing them!

[pczach]

I HATE the bumblebees uniform......just doesn't look professional and hard to take them serious....I just can't stop laughing at them.


I know they always win when they wear them, but I can't stand the bumblebees. I can't stand the sight of them.

[AtlantaDan]

1204871364773105664

[Fire Goodell]

1204871364773105664

Great news. With a legitimate WR1 and RB1 I wonder if this offense can actually be pretty good. Juju might have a decent game, with what DJ and Washington have been doing (and Cain proving he can make a few catches), teams would get burned if they kept double covering him.

[pczach]

1204871364773105664


It would be nice to have the full compliment of weapons at full strength just once before the season is over.

[HollywoodSteel]

:willy: YES!!! :willy:

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I like traditions and all... but... I wouldn’t be against it.

(Because, they certainly do indeed look BADASS!!!)

They do look bad ass, but we also never lose when we wear them. I’m not sure if that continues if we alway wear them.

[DesertSteel]

They do look bad ass, but we also never lose when we wear them. I’m not sure if that continues if we alway wear them.

5-0

[HollywoodSteel]

5-0

Exactly.

We were 4-2 in the Bumblebee uniforms.

So it’s official. The color rush uniforms are better in every way. :)

[Rotorhead]

So playing with the playoff calculator, if we beat Buffalo (and the Jets) we are in no matter what. This game is basically our season. If we lose we have to hope Ten sweeps Houston and Houston loses to Tampa or we have to beat the Ravens.

On another note, we can still win the div is we win out and Baltimore lose out . . . Just sayin

[Steeler-in-west]

Haven’t seen the bills play at all, so I don’t have a good pulse on a prediction

just glad the Steelers are at home, I’m obviously leaning toward a win against an opponent that seems somewhat evenly matched with us.

[86WARD]

Great news. With a legitimate WR1 and RB1 I wonder if this offense can actually be pretty good. Juju might have a decent game, with what DJ and Washington have been doing (and Cain proving he can make a few catches), teams would get burned if they kept double covering him.

When does that “legit” WR1 and RB1 arrive?

[AtlantaDan]

1205464297377275904
(https://twitter.com/adamschefter/status/1205464297377275904)

[DesertSteel]

Well I guess it's not meant to be with Juju this year. I'm expecting Conner to come up lame as well.

[Iron Steeler]

Josh allen is has a strong arm and athletic legs. He loves to air out moon balls and hope for the best. Call it 50/50 balls, to me it looks as if it hope for pass interference calls (alot like Joe Flacco used to do to us) . I have been watching a lot of Bills games on NFL Game Pass. If Josh Allen does not hit his home run throws (or defensive PI)in the first half and plays from behind he gets frustrated and mistakes start to happen. He seems stubborn, and prideful of his arm , so he will keep trying to launch it down field. He is not great at dinking and dunking short to intermediate passes to sustain a long drive down the field, which we should force him to try and acheive.

Summation: If Safeties and Corners have to mindful of the moonballs and avoid PI penalties. Front 7 keeps doing there thing and forcing Allen to throw quick intermediate yardage throws (which he struggles with accuracy) . And if the offensive just plays above average we should win the game.

Prediction: good guys win

[Moose]

Well I guess it's not meant to be with Juju this year. I'm expecting Conner to come up lame as well.

Conner is ALWAYS LAME ! Useless in my book, never there when needed. Get rid of him. Just my opinion.

[Fire Goodell]

Conner is ALWAYS LAME ! Useless in my book, never there when needed. Get rid of him. Just my opinion.

I disagree, he has the ability to put up monster games, he just shouldn't be getting 20+ carries a game. In a rotation he can be very effective. At least keep him for his rookie contract, the production vs cost is still high.

[Fire Goodell]

Anywho, I think their 2 keys on offense will be what they've been doing the past 3 weeks:

1) Protect the Duck - When not under pressure, he has a passer rating of 117. That's pretty damned good.
2) Run the Ball - I don't care who they use, pound the rock and pass the ball 20 times. Buffalo's defense overall is good, but has one weakness, people can run on them. They give up 4.4 yards per carry on the ground. Keep the fresh legs in there with a combo of Conner / Snell / Whyte / Samuels and ram it down their throats

If they can continue to run effectively and protect Hodges, I feel this game will be very winnable.

[Rotorhead]

Anywho, I think their 2 keys on offense will be what they've been doing the past 3 weeks:

1) Protect the Duck - When not under pressure, he has a passer rating of 117. That's pretty damned good.
2) Run the Ball - I don't care who they use, pound the rock and pass the ball 20 times. Buffalo's defense overall is good, but has one weakness, people can run on them. They give up 4.4 yards per carry on the ground. Keep the fresh legs in there with a combo of Conner / Snell / Whyte / Samuels and ram it down their throats

If they can continue to run effectively and protect Hodges, I feel this game will be very winnable.

This sounds like a good gameplan, I haven’t watched Buffalo at all this season, so I am not sure how good their Def is. I am not so worried about their offense against our def. if we can run efficiently on them, we should be fine with our current passing game as long as we protect the ball.

[Fire Goodell]

"Experts" keep saying the Steelers benefitted from an easy schedule, but haven't the Bills? According to this, Buffalo is 31st in sechedule strength to date (Steelers are at 14th). Their signature wins were the Titans (with Mariota at QB), and Dallas who pretty much feasted on the worst 3 teams in the NFL : http://powerrankingsguru.com/nfl/strength-of-schedule.php. Not saying this will be an easy out, it wont. But I just feel the team is being overlooked by the media.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

"Experts" keep saying the Steelers benefitted from an easy schedule, but haven't the Bills? According to this, Buffalo is 31st in sechedule strength to date (Steelers are at 14th). Their signature wins were the Titans (with Mariota at QB), and Dallas who pretty much feasted on the worst 3 teams in the NFL : http://powerrankingsguru.com/nfl/strength-of-schedule.php. Not saying this will be an easy out, it wont. But I just feel the team is being overlooked by the media. They are being overlooked by the media but that is a good thing and reminds me of 2005 team. As for Dallas, man their fans was thinking Superbowl and bragging everywhere after the first three weeks. Haven't heard much out of them since.

[86WARD]

Don’t sleep on John Brown...