NFL Week 10 Game Preview: Bills vs. Steelers
Both the Buffalo Bills (3-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2-6) are running out of time to turn their respective seasons around, but fortunately for the Bills, they are getting a big boost today with a healthy E.J. Manuel returning to the starting lineup.
After missing four consecutive games with a sprained knee, Manuel will be back under center for Buffalo as it tries to avoid a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh is also looking to dodge a third straight loss, but coming off their worst defensive performance in team history has the Steelers even lower than the lowly Bills.
“I think we’re all angry and disappointed,” said Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, according to ESPN.com. “That’s probably collectively what’s in this locker room.”
Despite getting burned by Tom Brady for 432 passing yards in last week’s 55-31 loss, the Steelers come into today’s contest ranked fourth in the NFL in pass defense (210 yards allowed per game) and won’t likely make any personnel changes in the secondary, although they may mix up their schemes in taking on another highly capable QB this week.
“You re-evaluate everything,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. “You have to after a performance like (last weekend) and we will. It doesn’t necessarily mean we will change or change for the sake of changing, but we will look at every aspect of what we are doing and who we are doing it with.”
Of course, when it comes to playing the Bills, defending the run is even more crucial. Buffalo is the league’s fourth best rushing squad (145.8 yard per game) and unfortunately for Pittsburgh, it hasn’t had much success stopping the run recently either. The Steelers have given up 197 yards rushing in each of the last two games and are now ranked 31st in the league with an average of 131.3 yards allowed per game.
While Buffalo will likely find room on the ground and through the air against the Pittsburgh defense, it has found ways to beat itself lately with turnovers. Despite outgaining the Chiefs 470-210 in total yards last week, the Bills lost the game after two of their three giveaways were taken in for Kansas City scores. However, considering the Steelers only have six takeaways all season (third fewest in AFC), the Bills may be able to hold onto the ball and give themselves more opportunities to score today.
We won’t know if Manuel is 100-percent healthy until kickoff today, but a slightly banged-up Manuel will probably still be more effective than Thad Lewis or Jeff Tuel, who have each lost games for the Bills in the past few weeks. So, with Manuel back under center and going against a weak defense, it appears the Bills actually have the edge in this one, even though most odds makers like the Steelers.
Take Buffalo to cover +4 on the road and win outright today.
