Scouting report: Bills host Steelers in Wild Card game

by Christina "Tina" Rivers (3Rivers_Writer) on January 11, 2024

Steel City Underground provides NFL fans a condensed pre-game scouting report on the Pittsburgh Steelers and their opponents during the 2023 NFL post-season, comprised of items from top storylines and insights.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills play on Sunday, Jan. 14 at Highmark Stadium in the NFL Playoffs on Wild Card weekend. The two teams last faced each other during the 2023 NFL pre-season. We look at topics that are trending ahead of the game as well as condensed storylines and insights surrounding the post-season matchup.

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The Bills are coming off a 21-14 win against the Miami Dolphins. They went 11-6 on the season and are the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The Steelers are coming off a 17-10 win against the Baltimore Ravens. They finished went 10-7 during the regular season and are the No. 7 seed in the AFC. Both teams faced unique challenges in their final regular season games, but Buffalo has been trending across sports betting sites as at least 10-point favorites over the Steelers.

The Bills are on a hot streak, having won five straight games to close out the regular season while the Steelers put together a three-game win streak. Buffalo, as host, has done well at home, and are expected to heavily defend their turf.

“The Bills have been a mixed bag as a heavy favorite this season…but we know this team is capable of blowing out inferior opponents, and the Steelers could be the worst team in the postseason.” – Brian Blewis/PFN

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“The Bills stampeded their way to a 4th-straight AFC East title by winning their final 5 games… Mason Rudolph has the Steelers on three-game winning streak heading into Orchard Park. But T.J. Watt is likely out for this one, pushing the number to 9.5. Winds are expected to be blowing around 30 MPH, which should limit both passing games. The Steelers have 5 straight losses against the AFC East. The Bills will keep the ball on the ground and control both lines of scrimmage.” – Bill Speros

The Bills don’t have Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on their roster. Predictions about limited passing games and a need for the ground game to be a big factor in the game can’t accurately forecast the way that tandem has operated for the Steelers, especially in their last few regular season games.

Comparisons: Rushing (17 games)

Team	Player	Carries	Yds	YPC avg	TDs
PIT	Najee Harris	255	1035	4.1	8
BUF	James Cook	237	1122	4.7	2
PIT	Jaylen Warren	149	784	5.3	4

The Bills barely utilized Latavius Murray or Ty Johnson over the season, although Murray did earn four rushing touchdowns.

Harris, Cook, and Warren are all valuable assets in the passing game, as well, despite their prowess as rushers. The edge, though, seems to be in favor of the Steelers in the overall picture of the run game. The Bills defense will need to account for two different style rushers while the Steelers defense can key-in on stuffing one primary back.

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The Bills have a number of players on their official injury report as of Wednesday that could play a factor in who’s on the field on Sunday. The players who were limited (LP) or did not participate (DNP) due to injury (not included are players rested) are as follows:

OT Dion Dawkins (hand, LP), WR Gabe Davis (knee, DNP), LB Tyrel Dodson (shoulder, LP), CB Rasul Douglas (knee, DNP), RB Ty Johnson (concussion, LP), S Taylor Rapp (cal, DNP).

We’re live with Coach McDermott as he takes questions from the media.#PITvsBUF | #BillsMafia https://t.co/LjmKzVCqwH

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 10, 2024

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The Steelers also have a number of players on their official injury report as of Wednesday, although the list is shorter:

OLB T.J. Watt (knee, DNP), Najee Harris (knee, DNP), LB Elandon Roberts (pec, LP), OG Isaac Seumalo (shoulder, DNP).

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1744765241785778471?t=bi7_opBaN96nZ7JPotciwg&s=19

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For the bulletin board

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1745112260492841424?t=-xR9q56xm4meHEeprJfxqQ&s=19

We’re live with Josh Allen as he takes questions from the media after practice.#PITvsBUF | #BillsMafia https://t.co/CmlpQOiaDv

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 10, 2024