After losing 31-28 to the Chicago Bears in Week 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers opened as consensus four-point underdogs for their Week 13 matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium next Sunday. Sports betting website VSiN posted the odds.
The Bills are coming off a 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, a game where QB Josh Allen was sacked eight times. Buffalo does have the benefit of a mini-bye after playing on Thursday. Still, they were banged up during the game against Houston, and RT Spencer Brown and LB Terrel Bernard are expected to miss the matchup against the Steelers.
The Bills are one game ahead of the Steelers in the AFC at 7-4, and after losing the AFC North lead today, the Steelers are currently out of the playoff picture. The matchup against Buffalo could be important for seeding if the Steelers make the postseason. The team has two remaining matchups with the Baltimore Ravens that will be crucial to their hopes of winning the division.
The Bills being banged up and their offensive line struggling could benefit a Steelers defense that’s had success getting after the quarterback, but for the second week in a row, they’ll have to deal with one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the league. Josh Allen uses his legs as well as anyone in the league, and the Steelers are quite familiar with Allen’s talents, as he’s 4-1 against them in his career.
Buffalo’s biggest issue this season has been it’s lack of options at outside receiver. Second-year WR Keon Coleman hasn’t had the breakout Buffalo expected, and he’s been a healthy scratch the last two weeks. Khalil Shakir, Joshua Palmer and Tyrell Shavers have been the team’s top receiving threats, while WR Gabe Davis has been elevated off the practice squad for the Bills’ last two games.
The Bills also have one of the best running backs in football in James Cook, and their offense is still potent despite their lack of receiving talent. Defensively, the Bills feature star LB Matt Milano, while the team added EDGE Joey Bosa to pair with Greg Rousseau. It’s going to be another difficult matchup for the Steelers, and it’s not a surprise that they enter the game as underdogs.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to return after missing Week 12 due to a wrist injury, but the Steelers’ defense is going to have to be much better if they want to beat the Bills.
Related Items:Aaron Rodgers, Buffalo Bills, Gabe Davis, James Cook, Josh Allen, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, Matt Milano, Trending, Tyrell Shavers, VSiN
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