Sunday was once a vintage David vs. Goliath matchup in Buffalo. But not like the biblical tale, Goliath prevailed on Sunday, because the Bills posted a 38-3 victory over the Steelers, who entered the sport as a 14-point underdog. The Bills are actually 4-1 and stay in first position within the AFC East. The Steelers, who noticed rookie Kenny Pickett make his first profession start on Sunday, are actually 1-4 after shedding their fourth instantly contest.
Josh Allen threw 4 landing passes within the first part because the Bills roared out to a 31-3 halftime lead. He threw two landing passes to Gabe Davis that incorporated a 98-yard landing at the 1/3 play from scrimmage. The rating tied the document for the longest landing in franchise historical past.
Allen, who threw for 348 yards within the first part, additionally lobbed touchdowns to Stefon Diggs and rookie Khalil Shakir, because the Bills’ offense churned out 401 yards within the first part and completed with 554 yards. Conversely, the Steelers’ offense went dormant after scoring on their first force. Pickett, who didn’t obtain a lot lend a hand from his operating sport, threw for 327 yards and an interception on 34 of 51 passing.
Here’s a more in-depth take a look at what transpired in Buffalo.
Why the Bills received
Allen had a profession sport in spite of the absence of injured wideout Isaiah McKenzie. Allen threw for a career-high 424 yards prior to leaving the sport after rookie James Cook’s 24-yard landing run one minute into the fourth quarter. Davis stuck 3 passes for 171 yards, whilst Diggs contributed with 102 yards. Shakir stuck 3 passes for 75 yards after catching simply two passes all over the season’s first 4 video games.
Defensively, the Bills have been ready to effectively hide their coverages. They made Najee Harris and the Steelers’ operating sport a non-factor, as Pittsburgh rushed for simply 54 yards on 17 carries. And Kaiir Elam, including to the luck of the Bills’ learners on Sunday, recorded his first profession interception close to the tip of the first part.
With the win, Bills trainer Sean McDermott now has the perfect successful proportion in franchise historical past, surpassing Hall of Fame trainer Marv Levy. McDermott has a .616 successful proportion since taking on because the Bills’ trainer in 2016. Levy posted a .615 successful proportion all over his 11 years in Buffalo that incorporated 4 consecutive Super Bowl berths.
Why the Steelers misplaced
Pittsburgh struggled in all 3 levels. The protection struggled to get off the sphere, failed to place force on Allen (who was once harassed only one time), misplaced one-on-one matchups and did a subpar process in open box tackling. The offense was once most commonly unsuccessful on ownership downs, didn’t make sufficient grasp performs and didn’t make sufficient of the straightforward performs. It was once a specifically tough day trip for Dointae Johnson, whose third-down drop on fourth down ended Pittsburgh’s force of the second one part.
The Steelers’ particular groups adopted swimsuit with a muffed kickoff within the first quarter and a overlooked box function in the second one and 1/3 quarters.
He overlooked some reads, however Pickett had a cast debut, given the problem of going through the NFL’s second-ranked scoring protection. Pickett had luck getting the ball to rookie wideout George Pickens, who had 83 yards on six catches.
Sunday marked the Steelers’ largest loss in 33 years, since they fell 51-0 to the Browns in Week 1 of the 1989 season. Remarkable, after shedding a 41-10 sport to the Bengals the following week, the Steelers make the playoffs that season for the general time below Hall of Fame trainer Chuck Noll.
Turning level
Pittsburgh nonetheless had a puncher’s likelihood at making it a aggressive sport within the early phases of the second one quarter. Levi Wallace, a former Bill who was once burned by means of Davis at the 98-yard landing, picked off Allen finally zone with the Steelers trailing 10-3.
Instead of capitalizing at the turnover, the Steelers’ offense went three-and-out after Pickett’s third-down of entirety to Harris was once two yards shy of the sticks. Buffalo scored two performs in a while Davis’ 63-yard landing, stretching its result in 14 issues.
Play of the sport
The 98-yard rating was once ancient, however Davis’ moment landing was once essentially the most spectacular play. On the play, Davis made a one-handed catch whilst wrestling the ball clear of Pittsburgh protection Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Quotable
“Appropriate.” — Mike Tomlin’s reaction when requested about Pickett’s response once you have hit low all over the general degree’s of Sunday’s sport. Pickett was once flagged for his movements, whilst there was once no flag at the hit that ended in his response.
What’s subsequent
Pittsburgh will host an previous rival, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, subsequent Sunday at Acrisure Staidum. The Steelers are 3-9 all-time in opposition to Brady that incorporates 3 AFC Championship Game defeats.
Speaking of competitors, the Bills will trip to Kansas City subsequent week to stand the Chiefs. Buffalo’s final two seasons have led to Kansas City within the AFC playoffs.