Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the inactive players for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild card matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the loss of T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a favorable position injury-wise — more so than a lot of teams at this point of the season. He’s the only player not a healthy scratch as the Steelers take on the Buffalo Bills in hopes of advancing to the playoff’s divisional round.
Here’s the full list of Pittsburgh’s inactives:
No love for the Steelers — just how they like it.
After a 27-hour delay, the Pittsburgh Steelers-Buffalo Bills Wild Card showdown will finally kick off this afternoon.
And, of course, the internet is giving the Steelers no love in a game where the Bills are 10-point favorites, according to BetMGM.
Zero love for Pittsburgh. Just how they like it.
Here’s how the internet’s experts and pundits picked today’s game:
Just as NY Governor Kathy Hochul wanted, the weather conditions at Highmark Stadium should free up the passing game for Josh Allen to do Josh Allen things.
Just as New York Governor Kathy Hochul wanted, the weather conditions at Highmark Stadium should free up the passing game for Josh Allen to do Josh Allen things. The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ defense just needs to minimize it.
Mason Rudolph has yet to be tested by a top-10 defense, but hopefully, Mason Rudolph can do Mason Rudolph things, too.
According to the Weather Channel, the percentage for precipitation will be widdled down to 11 percent with mostly cloudy skies. Southwest winds are forecasted at 10 miles per hour, putting the feels-like temperature around five degrees.
For comparison, the miserable weather for the Kansas City Chiefs-Miami Dolphins — negative four degrees (record for coldest game at Arrowhead) and whipping 25-mile-per-hour winds — didn’t keep Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa from slinging it for 461 total yards.
So, it’ll be an even playing field, just as the (in)convenient delay was meant to do.
Thanks, New York.
Now, Steelers — do your thing!
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The NFL has called Mason Rudolph back for another audition.
The NFL has called Mason Rudolph back for another audition. He saved the Pittsburgh Steelers from missing the postseason for the second straight year, giving 31 other teams a chance to see if he might fit what they’re looking to do in 2024.
Rudolph won’t only be fighting for Pittsburgh’s postseason life Monday evening in Buffalo but also for his future as a potential starter.
Chances are, it’ll be in another city for another team.
Rudolph could be at the forefront in what’s a relatively underwhelming free-agent quarterback class. Teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons could have their eye on the veteran, watching closely his performance tomorrow in Buffalo.
Given what we’ve seen these past few weeks, expect Rudolph to come to Highmark Stadium with confidence and poise. But those traits will be tested by a Bills defense that is worlds more stingy than the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and JVs of the Baltimore Ravens reserves.
Their ninth-ranked pass defense has allowed the seventh-fewest yards (280.7) by quarterbacks over the last three games. The unit held the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa to 173 yards and a score while picking him off twice last week. In Week 15, it limited Dak Prescott to 134 yards and no touchdowns with one interception.
Rudolph will be under tremendous pressure, both mentally and physically, to win a playoff game in miserable conditions. To say it’s a tall task would be an understatement.
If the Steelers can’t pull off the improbable, we’ll have likely seen the last of Rudolph in the Black and Gold. If they win and advance to the second round, it’ll increase his chances for a big payday — but it won’t be in Pittsburgh.
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Prayers up for the Pittsburgh Steelers!
Update: According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Pittsburgh Steelers landed safely in Buffalo.
While the good people of Buffalo are concerned about how a game will take place in a town that’s been pummeled with over a foot of snow, the Pittsburgh Steelers had to be concerned about getting there.
That process began around 3 p.m. Upon their arrival, Mayor Byron Brown said the Steelers will have the support of officials to arrive safely at their hotel and tomorrow’s game.
Orchard Park has been blasted with four to six inches of snow per hour over the last 24 hours. Snow could lessen in the overnight hours to one to three inches per hour.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press conference that in-game wind chill temperatures could be near zero degrees, but weather conditions should no longer be life-threatening.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be pleasant, but conditions won’t be life-threatening,” Hochul said.
All-Pro Killebrew ready for takeoff 🫡 pic.twitter.com/JnoXAEoqDt
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 14, 2024
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The Steelers vs. Bills rescheduled Wild Card game won’t be pushed again.
Per New York State governor Kathy Hochul, via ESPN’s Buffalo Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg, the Pittsburgh Steelers-Bills Wild Card game will be played as rescheduled.
“The game will not be pushed back again,” Hochul stated. Much to the dismay of fans, the NFL opted to postpone the game by 27.5 hours in the late morning hours of Jan. 13.
According to Getzenberg, there’s been constant communication between NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Bills co-owner Terry Pegula as to the logistics of how and when this matchup will be played.
Orchard Park has been blasted with four to six inches of snow per hour over the last 24 hours. Snow could lessen in the overnight hours to one to three inches per hour.
Hochul said in a press conference that in-game wind chill temperatures could be near zero degrees, but weather conditions should no longer be life-threatening.
“I’m not saying it’s going to be pleasant, but conditions won’t be life-threatening,” Hochul said.
New York State governor Kathy Hochul: "The game will not be pushed back again."
Said she's been in conversation with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Bills co-owner Terry Pegula.
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 14, 2024
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Advantage: Buffalo Bills
The NFL’s decision to postpone the Pittsburgh Steelers-Buffalo Bills Wild Card game isn’t sitting well with fans. Blizzard-like conditions were a significant advantage for Pittsburgh, given the emergence of their ground game, but now the playing field has been leveled.
There are many reasons why this decision is inconvenient, but what it comes down to is the safety of those traveling to the game.
Here are some of our favorite reactions to the postponement.
The Steelers-Bills Wild Card matchup has been rescheduled for Monday afternoon.
For the last week, the possibility of blizzard-like conditions hitting Orchard Park at the time of the Pittsburgh Steelers Wild Card showdown with the Buffalo Bills has been looming.
There’s been constant communication between government officials and the NFL as to whether to change the location or the date of the game.
And now it has. Per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Joe Rutter, the New York governor’s office has announced the Steelers and Bills game will now kick off Monday at 4:30 p.m.
Steelers and Bills will now play Monday at 4:30 pm, according to the New York governors office.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) January 13, 2024
Here’s a look at how things are shaping up injury-wise for Steelers-Bills on Sunday.
The second day of Wild Card Week practice was a solid one for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All players participated with the exception of T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward.
Here’s the full rundown:
Here’s the first injury report as the Steelers continue prep for Wild Card Week vs. the Bills.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have started practice preparation for their most important game to date of the 2023 season. The Steelers travel to cold and blustery Buffalo this weekend to take on the Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
Though the Steelers are without defender T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick was a full practice participant for the first time since injuring his knee in the Week 15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Here’s the rundown from the Steelers first practice of Wild Card Week.
