Entering the final quarter of the 2020 season, the Buffalo Bills again proved they’re peaking at the right time as they topped the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, 26-15, in Week 14.
While the final score might not show it, this was a defensive slugfest for much of the game. Both sides looked stuck in the mud at times, but the Bills (10-3) did just enough to get the job time after a picture-perfect second half.
With that, here are five takeaways from Buffalo’s Week 14 win over the Steelers (11-2):
Big yikes start
Credit to the defensive units of both teams, but considering what we’re used to seeing from the 2020 Bills, that start was… a big-time yikes, especially for Buffalo’s offense for the entire first half of this game. Quarterback Josh Allen turned the ball over and couldn’t surpass 100 yards passing. The offensive line didn’t have a good opening and a lot of Allen’s struggles had to do with him being pressured over and over again.
As expected, edge defender TJ Watt got his looks at Allen, Defensive tackle Casey Hayward beat center Mitch Morse leading to the interception by defensive back Mike Hilton as wel. Allen’s turnovers stopped there, but the Bills offensive line did get lucky on another play that was not reviewed which was probably a fumble by Allen.
The continued pressure on Allen caused the Bills to have drives of five plays or less on their first six-straight series on offense. That’s simply not a winning formula in the NFL, whether you’re against the top-seed in the AFC or the Jets. Also thrown in that sequence was a fumble from tight end Dawson Knox and almost no rushing attack to complement Allen as running back in the first half. Zack Moss had 14 rushing yards at half to lead the Bills, another problem that’s hampered Buffalo all season.
All these things considered, that might have been the worst start to a game for the Bills this season.
GIMME THAT 🏈@MikeHilton_28 | Watch #PITvsBUF: https://t.co/fkKSw1378x pic.twitter.com/te02bWR2Xy
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 14, 2020