Scouting the Steelers' Week 5 opponent: Buffalo Bills
The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit the Buffalo Bills for a 1 p.m. Sunday matchup against one of the best teams in the AFC.
Here’s a look at the Steelers’ Week 5 opponent:
The basics
Coach: Sean McDermott, sixth season (52-33 record)
Record: 3-1
Division: AFC East, second place
Wins: Rams (31-10), Titans (41-7), Ravens (23-20)
Loss: Dolphins (21-19)
Stat leaders
Passing: Josh Allen, 113-168, 1,227 yards, 6 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: Allen, 30-183 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving: Stefon Diggs, 31-406 yards, 4 TDs
Tackles: Matt Milano, 27 (22 solo)
Sacks: Greg Rousseau, 4
Interceptions: Jordan Poyer, 4
2022 storylines
• The Bills entered 2022 as one of the favorites to win the AFC after they fell just short of reaching the AFC championship game last season. They finished 11-6 last season and won the AFC East for a second straight year, earning the No. 3 seed for the playoffs behind the league’s best defense and an elite quarterback in Josh Allen.
After beating the Patriots in the wild card-round, Buffalo lost to the Chiefs in overtime in the divisional round.
• Buffalo started the season strong with a 31-10 win over the Super Bowl champion Rams and a 41-7 triumph over the Titans. A 21-19 loss to Miami followed before they rallied from a 17-point deficit for a 23-20 win over Baltimore.
Allen threw for 213 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
COMEBACK COMPLETE ‼️#BUFvsBAL | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/oi9nkxaxBN
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 2, 2022
• The Bills enter Sunday’s matchup saddled with injuries. The group includes wide receivers Jake Kumerow (ankle) and Isaiah McKenzie (head), defensive linemen Ed Oliver (ankle) and Jordan Phillips (hamstring) and cornerbacks Christian Benford (hand) and Tre’Davious White (knee).
• Allen is off to a strong start, throwing for 1,227 yards and rushing for 183. His passing total is second to the Chargers’ Justin Herbert (1,250). Allen’s QB rating is 101.0, and he has a completion percentage of 67.3.
• Stefon Diggs has been selected for the Pro Bowl the past two seasons and was first-team All-Pro in 2020 when he led the NFL with 127 catches and 1,535 yards. His production certainly hasn’t dropped off in 2022. He is second to the Rams’ Cooper Kupp (42 catches) with 31 receptions. And Diggs is second in receiving yards (406 yards) behind Miami’s Tyreek Hill (477 yards).
• Several players have performed well for the Bills defense, notably safety Jordan Poyer, who had two second-half interceptions in last week’s win over the Ravens. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. His four interceptions lead the NFL.
LOVE TO SEE IT‼️@J_Poyer21 is the AFC Defensive Player of the Week: https://t.co/tjo0wVN0q7 pic.twitter.com/bnZN3S4gbi
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 5, 2022
• Tyler Bass has been a reliable kicker for the Bills this season, converting 7 of 8 field goals and all 13 of his extra points. He converted 28 of 32 field goals in 2021 and 28 of 34 in 2020.
Tyler Bass appreciation tweet. ????@tbass_xvi | @ReedsJenss pic.twitter.com/E44q6zZ9b9
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 4, 2022
Miller makes an impact
• Earlier this week, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called Bills edge rusher Von Miller an “alien,” because there aren’t a lot of players like him.
A longtime star with the Broncos who helped the Rams win the Super Bowl last season, Miller, 33, signed a six-year contract as a free agent in March.
Sunday is going to be a battle. ????@TimHortonsUS | #PITvsBUF
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 6, 2022
He has three sacks over his first four games with Buffalo and has 118 ½ sacks in 154 career games.
Last meeting
• The Steelers beat the Bills, 23-16, in the season opener last season at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Trailing 10-6 entering the fourth quarter, Ben Roethlisberger threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson, Ulysees Gilbert returned a blocked punt 9 yards for another score, and Chris Boswell booted a 45-yard field goal to give the Steelers a win. The Bills’ Tyler Bass kicked three field goals, and Josh Allen threw for 270 yards and a touchdown.
• The Steelers lead the all-time series, 17-11, and have won seven of the past nine meetings.
• In the 1995 playoffs the Steelers beat the Bills, 40-21, in the AFC divisional round at frigid Three Rivers Stadium. Jim Kelly threw for just 135 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions, and Thurman Thomas had a rushing and receiving touchdown. The Steelers’ Neil O’Donnell was 19 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Bam Morris ran for 106 yards and two TDs.
Facts and figures
7 — Interceptions by Bills defenders, tied for tops in the NFL with the Jaguars, Ravens and Steelers.
10/3 — Josh Allen’s touchdown-to-interception ration this season.
7.3 — Average yards per attempt for Allen.
24th — Rank of the Bills’ offensive line by Pro Football Focus.
$1.4 billion — Cost of a new, 62,000-seat stadium planned to be constructed across from Highmark Stadium. It is scheduled to open in 2026.
Our defense. ????????#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/uwpbU5BSlR
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 3, 2022
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