The Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road and lost in Week 12. However, they’ll be back at Acrisure Stadium this week against the Buffalo Bills. They’ve struggled recently, so getting a win this week would be huge for the Steelers. Unfortunately, the Steelers haven’t been great at protecting their stadium this season. They’re 3-2 at Acrisure. Former NFL head coach Jon Gruden is worried that Bills fans could take over Pittsburgh, much like Green Bay Packers fans did a few weeks ago.
“I don’t even know if they have a homefield advantage,” Gruden said recently on the Pro Football Football Show podcast. “That’s what pisses me off. I saw Green Bay go to Pittsburgh, and they had to use a silent count because Green Bay took over the stadium. Buffalo might do the same thing.”
Gruden is correct that the Steelers needed to use a silent count in Pittsburgh when they played the Packers. The Steelers have one of the strongest fan bases in the league, so that was surprising to see.
However, a few other factors might have caused that. The main one being that it was Aaron Rodgers’ first time facing the Packers. That made it a more special occasion and was likely why so many Packers fans made the trip to Pittsburgh.
Also, the Packers have one of the NFL’s strongest fan bases. They’re one of the league’s oldest teams, filled with rich history. While the Bills don’t have the same history as the Packers, their fans are just as dedicated. The Bills Mafia has a lot of love and passion for their team. Buffalo is closer to Pittsburgh than Green Bay, too.
Therefore, the Steelers could see an influx of opposing fans this week. That wouldn’t be ideal, especially with their quarterback situation still unclear. The Steelers might need every advantage they can get against the Bills.
However, despite his concerns, Gruden is still picking Pittsburgh to win this week.
“Buffalo is beatable, and they got beat up. Their offensive line, as decorated as they are, they gave up eight sacks to the Houston Texans. Hello [Nick] Herbig, [T.J.] Watt. We’ve got all these pass rushers. Let’s freaking go. I’m going with the Steelers.”
He’s correct that the Bills are coming off a difficult loss to the Houston Texans. They got kicked around in that game, leaving them with a lot of injuries at key positions, most notably at offensive tackle. That might be enough to give the Steelers a fighting chance, although they’re dealing with injuries of their own.
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