Steelers vs Bills week 1

[Born2Steel]

So.....How do the Steelers score more points than this Bills team?

If I grade based off what we think we know today....

Pass offense - advantage Steelers(Bills are no slouch, close to a draw but I'm a homer)
Rush offense - advantage Bills(I trust their OL more as of today)

Pass defense - advantage Steelers(Bills are good but Steelers are better)
Run defense - advantage Bills(I just trust their LBs more as of today)

What are your thoughts?

Can we out-physical this Bills team?

Can we out-finesse this Bills team?

I think this is a GREAT game to start with. Could mean a lot more come playoff time.

[cubanstogie]

It all boils down to stopping big plays from Allen IMO. Bend not break and hold to FG’s. Bills will move ball for sure but red zone D has to step it up. I’m a homer too but really believe a resurgence of running game will happen and help Ben out. Unlike last year.

[Mojouw]

Pressure and limiting the run on defense and the play of the offensive line on offense.

It could be close...but I am feeling like the Steelers lose this one by 2 scores.

[DesertSteel]

Pressure and limiting the run on defense and the play of the offensive line on offense.

It could be close...but I am feeling like the Steelers lose this one by 2 scores.

Your pessimism is shocking!

Steelers by 2 as the Bills miss a 53 yard FG as time expires. 31-29.

[Mojouw]

Your pessimism is shocking!

Steelers by 2 as the Bills miss a 53 yard FG as time expires. 31-29.

I just think the Bills are a legit SB contender and the Steelers are a WC contender.

Totally new o line. Totally new offense. A question about how much the old gunslinger can still sling.

In Buffalo, that should be a Bills win.

[Born2Steel]

I just think the Bills are a legit SB contender and the Steelers are a WC contender.

Totally new o line. Totally new offense. A question about how much the old gunslinger can still sling.

In Buffalo, that should be a Bills win.

I think the Bills are legit as well. They have just as many weapons on offense as the Steelers and their OL is good, top 5-10 good. I'm wondering if we can out-physical their defense with our OL/Run game. Use the short pass game and use the clock to keep Allen and co off the field. We do not want a shoot out with this team, IMO. If we fall behind I think our vertical game beats their defense this year with the threat of Najee. But I don't think that should be the offensive gameplan. If that makes any sense.

[steel striker]

Tough game and, it's on the road most people expect the Bills to roll. I think if the o-line can protect the Steelers can steal this one and, the defense has to limit the Bills to FG's as posted above. 24-20 Steelers.

[86WARD]

I think they take a big loss here…unless Allen comes back to earth…which I doubt.

I don’t think they can score more points than the Bills here. 38-17 Buffalo.

[Fire Goodell]

Bills 24-10

[Born2Steel]

Not meant to be a predict the score thread. I think if the defense can hold the Bills to 21 or under the Steelers have a legit chance. A shootout goes to the Bills I fear. Just move the chains and keep the Bills' offense on the sidelines.

[Steeler-in-west]

I'm not going to underestimate Tomlin in a big game on the road. Its going to be a close game - down to the wire.

Steelers by a point or two.

[HollywoodSteel]

We have a back who can beat off defenders. We will loose no more games!

[Mojouw]

I think the Bills are legit as well. They have just as many weapons on offense as the Steelers and their OL is good, top 5-10 good. I'm wondering if we can out-physical their defense with our OL/Run game. Use the short pass game and use the clock to keep Allen and co off the field. We do not want a shoot out with this team, IMO. If we fall behind I think our vertical game beats their defense this year with the threat of Najee. But I don't think that should be the offensive gameplan. If that makes any sense.

That could/should be the plan. But I just don't see an all new OL getting it together enough to maul a really darn good defense in their home opener.

If they played the Bills in Pittsburgh, a month from now...I might feel differently. But next weekend, on the road? Just not expecting much.

[Born2Steel]

That could/should be the plan. But I just don't see an all new OL getting it together enough to maul a really darn good defense in their home opener.

If they played the Bills in Pittsburgh, a month from now...I might feel differently. But next weekend, on the road? Just not expecting much.

Valid.

[that1guy]

Who knows what to expect? The Offensive line is completely different and they haven't had any real tests. The offense is also running a new scheme under Canada and Harris looks good but how will that transfer week 1. I'm expecting a rude awakening vs the Superbowl contending Bills.

[Edman]

The Bills in front of a capacity crowd will come out firing looking to get a big start and put the Steelers on the back burner. An opening touchdown drive. The Steelers have to weather the initial flurry. If they can do that, they'll have a chance.

The Bills are stacked and may be too much come the end. 31-16 Bills.

[Born2Steel]

If the Bills put up 30-40 points I'm going to be very disappointed in our defense. They scored 26 last season when we couldn't get a 1st down let alone score. I think we can hold them under 21. Gonna require the offense to move the chains though.

[Steeler-in-west]

If the Bills put up 30-40 points I'm going to be very disappointed in our defense. They scored 26 last season when we couldn't get a 1st down let alone score. I think we can hold them under 21. Gonna require the offense to move the chains though.

And our defensive front seven to put pressure on Allen and stop the run

Time for Watt, Highsmith, Heyward to have big games and Ingram to be solid
Not to mention Bush and Schobert

[Fire Goodell]

I think I'd be more optimistic if this wasn't the first game. Do we have the talent and personnel to match up to the Bills? Yes. But right now we have a total lack of experience on the OL. The way you beat the Bills is to ram the ball down their throats, but this is the first time our OL and Najee Harris will be seeing live fire. For that I think there's a big advantage to the Bills, not to mention it's a road game.

[st33lersguy]

Our O-line is going to struggle, especially in run blocking which will prevent holes in the run game from opening up which will slow the offense down. Then you Buffalo's pass O, specifically Stefon Diggs. Keep in mind, Diggs torched the secondary when this team had better CBs. Not looking good in week 1

[Dissolv]

The first game out of the chute? Normally we start slow. With all the new talent, this is going to be a game where they would have to come together, and fast. I don't expect a great game out of the offense, but I do expect sparks. I"m not even sure what to expect out of the defense, so it may be more about how fast the Bills start the year than us, honestly.

What I am sure of, is that I don't expect the first game to be our best game, win or lose. It may take until games 4 or even 6 to really pick up steam, so we're bracing for a slow start and some scrappy performances.

[Steeler-in-west]

Our O-line is going to struggle, especially in run blocking which will prevent holes in the run game from opening up which will slow the offense down. Then you Buffalo's pass O, specifically Stefon Diggs. Keep in mind, Diggs torched the secondary when this team had better CBs. Not looking good in week 1

wasn’t it Steven Nelson he was torching? Nelson is gone and with good reason, his play was slipping. hopefully Sutton and or Pierre fare better with help from Fitzpatrick

[teegre]

Alex Highsmith will have 8 hurries, resulting in several incomplete passes… and people will complain about the lack of sacks.

Watt will have one sack… and people will say that he didn’t have more because Tomlin let him miss training camp.

Every time that Harris carries the ball for less than 2 yards, people will complain about drafting him.

Even if the O-line has a decent game, people will only focus on the ONE penalty they had.

DJ will drop three passes… but, he’ll also lead the team in receptions and receiving yards.

Freiermuth will outplay Ebron with 3 more receptions, 45 more yards, a 1:0 TD ratio, and a 0:3 drop ratio.

[86WARD]

wasn’t it Steven Nelson he was torching? Nelson is gone and with good reason, his play was slipping. hopefully Sutton and or Pierre fare better with help from Fitzpatrick

I’d probably rather have Nelson starting the first game of the season then Sutton and definitely over Pierre.

[86WARD]

Alex Highsmith will have 8 hurries, resulting in several incomplete passes… and people will complain about the lack of sacks.

Watt will have one sack… and people will say that he didn’t have more because Tomlin let him miss training camp.

Every time that Harris carries the ball for less than 2 yards, people will complain about drafting him.

Even if the O-line has a decent game, people will only focus on the ONE penalty they had.

DJ will drop three passes… but, he’ll also lead the team in receptions and receiving yards.

Freiermuth will outplay Ebron with 3 more receptions, 45 more yards, a 1:0 TD ratio, and a 0:3 drop ratio.

Watt will have three sacks and people will bitch that Tomlin held a training camp.

[teegre]

Watt will have three sacks and people will bitch that Tomlin held a training camp.

You get it.

[Fire Goodell]

my prediction, watt won't register a sack despite being the highest paid player, which by default will put him in StillMill's doghouse, then he'll get his weekly dong report

[st33lersguy]

wasn’t it Steven Nelson he was torching? Nelson is gone and with good reason, his play was slipping. hopefully Sutton and or Pierre fare better with help from Fitzpatrick

Yeah, somehow I doubt it

[Steeler-in-west]

Yeah, somehow I doubt it

steelers saw fit to let Nelson go and elevate Sutton, we’ll see how it goes, I hope they were right

[Born2Steel]

And our defensive front seven to put pressure on Allen and stop the run

Time for Watt, Highsmith, Heyward to have big games and Ingram to be solid
Not to mention Bush and Schobert

Our front 7(6) MUST be elite. The secondary will be a weakness early this season. The Bills have 4-5 very good receiving threats and Allen was an MVP candidate last season. Pressures, sacks, stuff the run, and hopefully plenty of 'legal' knock downs. Everybody is going to have to tackle well. I think this will be a huge challenge for our defense. This is why I think the offense will need to make long drives that eat up clock and end with scores, keeping the Bills offense off the field. Limit their possessions helps our defense.

I'm hoping this is the game that jumpstarts Watt's DPOY season in a big way.