Steelers Scouting Report: Week Five at Buffalo Bills
Steel City Underground’s “Steelers Scouting Report” is a preview of each opponent Pittsburgh will face throughout the 2022-23 NFL regular season on a weekly basis, with analysis, injury news, and potential key matchups.
The biggest storyline coming out of Pittsburgh Sunday night was not the Steelers defense’s inability to close out games this year and throwing away a 10-point lead to the New York Jets, but rather the dawning of the Kenny Pickett era in the Steel City.
As the journey begins with Pickett’s first NFL career start for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the young gunslinger will face a gauntlet of tough opposition. First, this weekend at the Buffalo Bills, then he’ll face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Philadelphia Eagles before reaching the Week Nine BYE.
The Steelers may be sitting at 1-3, but this Sunday marks the turning of a new page and beginning of a new chapter in Pittsburgh. Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers face-off against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Going into Sunday’s matchup, we take a closer look at the Buffalo Bills.
Bills offense
To get the obvious out of the way, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is a freak of nature who needs to be heavily monitored on Sunday in order to prevent him from single-handedly destroying this struggling Steelers defense, especially in the secondary where injuries are starting to pile up.
Ahkello Witherspoon, Terrell Edmunds, and Minkah Fitzpatrick are all dealing with significant injuries and not practicing as of Wednesday. Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace were limited Wednesday as well.
These injuries to the Steelers secondary come at a time where the Bills’ receiving corps – and entire team for that matter – have been struck by the injury bug as well, with Jamison Crowder (ankle), Isaiah McKenzie (concussion), Dalton Knox (foot/hamstring), and Jake Kumerow (ankle) all not practicing Wednesday.
One major weapon for Josh Allen has managed to stay off the injury report: Stefon Diggs.
The combination of the injuries to the Bills’ offensive weapons, and the injuries to the Steelers secondary could mean a big day for Diggs. Diggs has proven to be a reliable No. 1 receiver for Allen since moving to Buffalo and I expect that connection to be on full display this Sunday against an injured, and struggling Steelers secondary.
The return of Gabe Davis, who was a full participant at practice on Wednesday, could also spell trouble for the Steelers secondary. Davis has shown the ability to burn opposing corners on deep, homerun-balls. If the weather in Buffalo permits it, don’t be surprised if Allen looks Davis’ way if he thinks the receiver has a step on his man.
One major way that the Steelers front seven can help their secondary, in stopping the onslaught of this Bills offense, is to stuff the Bills running game and do it early.
If there has been one weakness in the Bills offense during the McDermott-Allen era, it would be their lackluster running attack outside of Allen himself. The Steelers front seven will need to shut down hit-and-miss running back Devin Singletary early in Sunday’s game and make the Bills offense one-dimensional if they want to stay in this game.
“We can’t take them any different than any other team. It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers we’re talking about. They’ve been a very good team for a very long time and it’s no secret why. The coaching staff that they’ve got in place there and continuing to develop (their) players…” – Josh Allen
Bills defense
Similar to the offensive side of the ball, injuries are the name of the game for the Buffalo Bills defense.
Micah Hyde, already out for the season after suffering a neck injury, is joined by Tre’Davious White who’s been on injured/reserved until this week. Head coach Sean McDermott called White’s status “one day at a time.” Jordan Poyer, who has already missed time this season, is still nursing a rib injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday.
And the hits just keep on coming for the Buffalo Bills as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (brother of Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds) landed on the injury report on Wednesday, not practicing due to a hamstring injury.
If there were ever an ideal time to face a Super Bowl favorite, it would be at a time when their injury report is riddled with stars like it is coming into Sunday’s game.
While the injury report for the Buffalo Bills may be riddled with stars, there are still plenty that will be taking the field for Buffalo on Sunday. Poyer, who I believe will play on Sunday, is coming off a performance against the Baltimore Ravens that garnered him an AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. (Edit: Poyer has now been ruled out for Sunday.)
Linebacker Matt Milano, who is one of – if not the best – coverage linebackers in the NFL, will have his hands full on Sunday with Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris working the middle of the field. But, those will be some “star on star” matchups that will be fun to watch.
Last, but certainly not least, the Steelers offense will be attempting to prevent linebacker Von Miller – who somehow found the fountain of youth in Los Angeles during his time with the Rams – from continuing the resurgence that has him in Buffalo.
“Some guys are aliens visiting from another planet and that’s just the reality of it.” – Mike Tomlin on Von Miller
The Steelers offensive line will need to bring that alien back down to Earth and protect their rookie quarterback if they want to stay competitive in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. They have the respect of Miller. He told Grace Heidinger, Bills best writer, that he believes the Steelers have the best O-line unit that the Bills have seen this season.
“Even though (Pickett’s) a young quarterback, he’s talented… I think this offensive line is really the difference maker for the offense.” – Von Miller
Despite injuries to key players in the Buffalo secondary, the Bills come into Sunday with the NFL’s top pass defense. The good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers is that history is like poetry; it has a repetitive meter, as illustrated by Missi Matthews’ Tweet:
From @NFLResearch: #Steelers rookie QB Kenny Pickett's first start will come against the Bills #1 pass defense.
The last rookie QB to beat the #1 pass defense in his first career start was Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) October 5, 2022
Injuries
Injuries have been the word of the day for this scouting report, so let’s just list the Bills’ full injury and participation report as of Wednesday. This will be a list Steelers fans will want to check before game time.
Buffalo Bills Participation/Injury Report
Wednesday, October 5
- CB Christian Benford (Hand) – DNP
- WR Jamison Crowder (Ankle) – DNP
- WR Gabe Davis (Ankle) – Full
- LB Tremaine Edmunds (Hamstring) – DNP
- DT DaQuan Jones (Vet Rest) – DNP
- TE Dawson Knox (Foot/Hamstring) – DNP
- WR Jake Kumerow (Ankle) – DNP
- CB Cam Lewis (Forearm/Knee) – Full
- WR Isaiah McKenzie (Concussion) – DNP
- LB Von Miller (Vest Rest) – DNP
- C Mitch Morse (Elbow) – LP
- OL Justin Murray (Foot) – LP
- DT Ed Oliver (Ankle) – LP
- DT Jordan Phillips (Hamstring) – LP
- S Jordan Poyer (Ribs) – DNP
- G Rodger Saffold (Vet Rest) – DNP
The Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, October 9th at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) at Highmark Stadium on CBS (broadcasters: Jim Nantz on play-by-play and Tony Romo as analyst).
