The Buffalo Bills (9-4) travel to Pittsburgh to face off against the Steelers (8-5). With three games left for each team, playoff implications loom over these wild card squads.
Both teams desperately need the win for different reasons. A Bills win places the team with 10 wins. Plus, a loss from the Patriots gives the Bills a tie for the division with the two settling the beef next week.
A win relieves the Bills, too, by placing them two games over the other wild card contenders. However, a loss is nearly deadly for the Bills, as it causes them to drop to the sixth spot and survive with a tiebreaker over TennesseeTitans for a playoff spot.
Although the Bills are the favorites to win, the Steelers must pull out a home victory. A win in Heinz Field flops the Steelers to the fifth spot. However, a loss can kick the Steel City squad out of playoffs.
With both teams glaring for a key win late in the season, what are the keys for each team to win?
Buffalo Bills
Offensively, the Bills perch in the driver’s seat. If Josh Allen opens up the offense to more than 20 points, the Bills can steal the road win. Both top five defenses have not allowed over 20 points in five straight weeks. If John Brown and Allen connect, it will be lights out in the primetime matchup.
Despite the offensive advantage, the defense needs to shut down the returners. James Conner will see snaps this week. After missing time, he will be eager to go big in a home marquee matchup.
The defense cannot allow Devlin Hodges to build confidence and throw deep, either.
Overall, the Steelers are a 1.5-point favorite, but the Bills should not worry.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On the offensive side, the “Duck” must utilize James Washington and Diontae Johnson. Against a top five defense, relying on one receiver will not end with a Steelers win. Instead, combining those two provides coverage mishaps. Although the mistakes will not occur often, it takes one play for the Steelers to add six.
Although the offense plays a role, the Steelers demand the defense to step up again. Minkah Fitzpatrick creates a scare tactic that puts the Steelers in favorable mismatches. It forces opponents to retreat to Joe Haden and Steve Nelson, who are dominating this season.
The run game will be huge for the Bills if they want to win.
Prediction
Although the Steelers are favorites, the Bills are healthier and desire a road win. It will be a low-scoring game that requires each field goal attempt to fall.
Buffalo Bills 20, Pittsburgh Steelers 17
