January 10, 2024 • 21 mins
Tom and Matt break down the Steelers playoff matchup with the Buffalo Bills
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Advanced Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Steelers won their final three games of the season and
earned a playoff berth thanks to the help that they
got with the Titans beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the
Bills are also coming into this game red hot, Matt.
They have won five straight games to not only clinched
the playoff spot, but to snatch back the AFC East
(00:23):
from the Miami Dolphins. So two teams that are really
in great form as far as they're playing style right now.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And to be honest, that five game stretch for the
Bills and the three game stretch for the Steelers were
pretty darn close to the playoff games. I mean, both
these teams were beat against the wall, couldn't afford to
lose any of them.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Buffalo is seven to two the season at home. Pittsburgh
has won five of their eight games away from home,
so they are five and three on the road. Interesting
little nugget here, the Steelers have played eight games against
teams in the playoffs. They've won five of them. Yeah,
Bills are four and one. Though a lot of trends
there similarities between these two teams, but it also.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Shows I mean, you played eight games win or loss
against playoff teams. That's half your schedule against the best
teams in the league.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Here's the big difference between them though, minus twenty point
differential for the Steelers, the Bills are plus one forty.
As far as a little bit of point differentialist concern.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Of all the double digit win teams, Steelers are the
only ones with a negative one.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thing I did find interesting in your stat pack as
far as what type of game this might be. For
the season, Buffalo is passing the football on fifty four
point one percent of their snaps in Pittsburgh at fifty
two point seven that's twenty seventh and twenty eighth lowest
in the league. But the past three weeks Buffalo is
forty seven percent, thirtieth in the league. Pittsburgh is thirty
nine point eight percent, thirty second in the league. For
the season, no offense throws the ball at a lower
(01:40):
clip at home than the Bills that's forty seven percent,
and no team throws the ball on the road at
a lower percentage than the Steelers, who do it at
forty seven percent. So run the fourth Iowa run the
football a lot in this game, even if it's snowing
or it's sunny or whatever. They run the football both teams.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I mean I knew that both were, of course. I
mean we know running heavy. Yeah, heavy. I didn't think
it was that extreme for either one of them, especially
the Bills. He always to think of Josh Allenson.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I don't get the Bills won, especially at Well.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
He runs a lot too, although you.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Don't have that great of a home field advantage in
terms of throwing the football.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
In bufft No, No, I mean, is this game to
be two hours, especially with someone who works on the broadcast?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I break serious history between these two. The Steelers
lead the series seventeen to twelve. Buffalo did win the
most recent matchup. It was a thirty eight to three
beating in Week five of the twenty twenty two season.
The Bills have won three of the most recent four
meetings between the teams. For that Pittsburgh was on a
six game winning streak, including a six game winning streak
against the Bills, and to take it a step further,
(02:39):
the Steelers won ten of eleven, including two in the playoffs,
between nineteen ninety three and twenty sixteen, but the air
between nineteen eighty and nineteen ninety two belonged to Buffalo.
The Bills won seven of eight during that time, and
this has been a very streaky series. The Bills and
Steelers started playing games in the seventies, and during the
nineteen seventies, Pittsburgh only lost one of six meetings. The
last time these franchises met in the playoffs was the
nineteen ninety five Divisional round Steelers victory. All time in
(03:02):
the playoffs, Pittsburgh has the two to one edge, But
this is the Steelers' first trip to Buffalo in the postseason,
and that's a different animal.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Different animal, no doubt. It's kind of interesting, you know,
as you're reading that, I mean the history, the Super
Bowl era for these teams. They both have had some
extreme highs. You know, they went to four straight Super
Bowl it's sane and right now they've been one of
the best teams of the last ten years. But one
team gets trophies out of it and one doesn't.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You know, Let's start with the Bills offense, because I
think that's the side of the ball that steals all
the headlines in this matchup. Although the defense is great too,
don't get me wrong. But you look at that offense,
it's top ten as far as total yards is concerned,
a top five. Excuse me, it's fourth in that category,
they're eighth and passing offense, they're seventh in the rushing offense.
They're sixth in points per game. But they do have
(03:49):
twenty eight giveaways, which is ninth most in the NFL.
The average five point seven yards per play this season,
that's fourth best in the league. Over the past three games,
it's been five point five yards per play. And convert
a series of down to a new series of down
at the least third highest rate seventy seven percent. The
average is seventy percent. So they stay on the field
a lot, all a lot. They get a lot of yards.
I mean, other than the turnover aspect, it's almost a
(04:11):
perfect offense.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, it is one thing I don't love about their
offense that could come into play here, even though they
do run the ball a ton. I always thought they
should have a Jerome Bettis, you know, like if you're
going to host playoff games in Buffalo, New York. Yeah, yeah,
James Cook, I mean you're you're you're running, but your
quarterbacks are huge human being. But you'd like to close
teams out with a Bettis or an all start or
(04:33):
a guy like that, not James Cook in a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, yeah, James Cook has been great for them. They
have something in the running game that they haven't had
other than Josh Allen recently. But I agree with you.
You know, one guy I thought they might kick the
tires on is maybe James Connor trade in the trade.
That's something that would be a perfect fit right now.
I know they got Leonard Fournette.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No, but he's done any right.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, Connors ran for a thousand yards, So yeah, I
agree with you. That type of player, that type of
battering ram guy, especially.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Like that such Derrick Henry becomes available.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That's such a deadline acquisition. I feel like too for them.
You know, you're not asking them to come in and
be the number one, but we're gonna need you in
December and January.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, stay fresh, and we're gonna bludge in teams with
the lead in the snow, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And now that might be Josh Allen doing the bludgeoning.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
And it has been the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That could yeah, and it could work in this week
and you beat the Steelers. You might work the next
week and you in your next game, But there's a
ware that's going to start to take on him, especially
in these kind of games. They Let's be honest, man,
people hit a little harder when the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Oh yeah, more little too, Yeah yeah yeah. But if
I'm the owner of the Bills, what I'm paying that guy,
I don't want him to be my you know.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh Bills drop back to pass per EPA. Only the
San Francisco and Dallas Cowboys have been more effective. So
it's amazing to see that stat with all the turnovers
that they have, But it just shows you that his
yardage output and his touchdown output, which he leads the
league in total yards and total touchdowns, it overcomes all
of those interceptions.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
He really does. Mean, he's throw in the most interceptions
of his career. If you take the interceptions, I'll the
equation in which you can't, it's clearly his best year.
He'd probably be the league MVP. You know, he's playing
at a remarkably high level. He's an unbelievable force of nature,
but he's also a wild stallion that will if you
watch that Miami game, he throws two end zone picks
(06:13):
before you know it, and then before you know it,
he takes the game over.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Bad looking picks. Oh, he's just horrendous looking picks. But
he doesn't care. And that's such a big factor going
in his favor. Is Yeah, the Steelers need to turn
him over a few times in this game, I think.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
To win, I bet he throws them one.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But you're never gonna get rattle him. That's the thing
that he's gonna.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Keep coming and coming and coming.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
So get a couple of picks, maybe force a fumble
on a stripsack. It points off of those, and then
he's kind of like hold the damn and hope that
he doesn't come back on.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Hoping the snow in the run game even sings out
a little bit, you know, And of course you don't
have what.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Just to put in perspective of how good Allen has been.
Of all quarterbacks with at least two to fifty pass attempts,
thirty one NFL passes have qualified Allen. It's tenth and
completion percentage, he's fourth in yards, he's ninth in yards
per attempt his fifth and touchdown passes. He's seventh and
average depth of target. Only eight of the thirty one
qualified passers have a higher average time to throw two
point seven seconds. Alan had a career high eighteen interceptions
(07:05):
this season, and only Sam Howt threw more. And like
I mentioned, total yards and total touchdowns, he's at the
top of both categories. Fifteen rushing touchdowns. Matt I saw
that today.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
My job was this insanity, right, And they're not all
push push plunges. He gets those, but he also gets
the long ones. I mean, he's a fantasy gold And
with respect to Diggs and Dave and their dudes, their
receivers aren't elite, you know, like Diggs has been slipping lately.
He's good, but the last couple of months haven't been phenomenal.
(07:36):
Can Cage's dangerous Cooks are really good receiving back, but
it's not I mean, there's better weapon groups out there.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, talking about the weapons for Josh Allen gave Davis,
who knows if he's going to be able to play
in this game. Didn't return against the Dolphins, So that's
never really a good sign if you don't return, especially
he left early in that game too, so he had
ample time to come back if he would have been
able to. So you're looking at Diggs obviously, and you're
probably looking at k Shakir, I.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Mean quality slot young player.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, nothing to really keep up though, for sure. And
then you have Dalton Kincaid and all of the combination
of Shakiir, digs In. Kincaid had at least six catches
and eighty four receiving yards in Week eighteen.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
So yeah, that's who they got the football.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
They got the football to those three guys. And Diggs
was had a really good performance rebounding last week with
seven catches and eighty seven yards against Miami because seven
games before that four point three receptions per game and
only thirty seven receiving yards per game. And yeah, and
you know, right, and you run the Mark Man Show
on Monday this week and you noted. You know, it's
not just production's gone down. He's not in the field
(08:37):
as much as he usually.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, maybe this sho happens, and it happened so often
the league, like once they get eliminated, Stefan Diggs getting
a scope on his own, Like, oh that adds up.
And maybe I don't know, but he's not young.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well we don't even have to ask this question anymore.
When it comes to Joey Porter Junior, he's going to
be following stiff On Diggs. Porter Junior average point nine
yards per coverage snap this season as the nearest defenders phenomenal.
I think he should actually be the NFL Rookie of
the Year defensively now because of how Jalen Carter has
kind of gone down as Porter's just kind of I know,
he's had his later start than Carter did, but he's
(09:12):
never really dropped off throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
And now that they charged some of these stats like
that point nine yards, he's a little bit stronger case.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, that's the fourth lowest of any NFL cornerback, No
rookie NFL cornerbacks againstos Gardner's are in there, like yeah,
all of the elite names that you're familiar.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
With against fourth Higgins and Metcalf and now Diggs. I
mean he's getting the toughest assignments too.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, no doubt. Where does Diggs ranking that hierarchy in
your eyes?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I don't. I wish you didn't ask me, because before
the season I would have said four, five, six, DeVante
Adams neighborhood, But this year is I mean the whole
second half of the year. He has not been the
same at all.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Would you say Porter gone up against Jamar and DK
were a bit of tougher challenges in your eyes this year.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Jamar, yes, DK, You're not saying Higgins no, DK. I'm
not sure. The thing is, though, digs on his best day,
which maybe they're Gettinghi on his best day after that
Miami game. He's an elite route runner, set up guy.
He might turn Porter into Knots. I mean he might.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And I think the other factor of this Matt is
it probably is the best quarterback on the other end
of that equation that Melton had to face too.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, I thought Gino played well, but this is.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
True, but it's a different ends. Differently, we're talking to
top three dude potentially, but the weather won't hurt Dalton
Kinkaid is a target share of twenty five twenty two
percent over the past two games, Dawston Knox returning fourteen,
and since then he has only been on the field
seventy one percent of the snaps. I'm talking about Dalton
Kincaid there. So they have started to split a little
bit of the tight end duties between Knox and Kincaid.
(10:41):
But that would be my attack plan if I'm Joe Brady,
this Bill's offensive coordinator, because I see the success that
teams like the Cardinals and the Patriots had with tight ends,
and I got two pretty good tight ends here. And
Kinkaid's really starting to come into his.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Own, huge believer. I mean, he's he's equal parts wide
out in tight end. He's not going to uproot, you know,
defensive ends in the run game or anything like that.
You can move player. He's like two hundred and forty pounds,
runs really well, sharp route runner. But yes, you don't
have Wat, which is awful. But I think you're gonna
have Menca. I think you're gonna have KZ. I think
Peterson moves back to the corner, which puts Wallace on
(11:14):
the bench. Your linebacker situation is better. So the back
seven might be the best the Steelers have had it
for I don't know, five or six weeks, no doubt
about that. Maybe Mika just lines it. Maybe it's Porter
on Digs and Minco on Kincaid and let the chips
follow they've you know where they may.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
You know, it's hard to you know, reference this game
because they just got blown out. But when you look
at the Niners game in Week one, Minka drew George
Kittle a lot, yeah, coverage and erase them. I mean
he really everybody, everybody else was a factor in that
game for the Niners, but Kittle was very quiet because
of Minka. So yeah, maybe Minka just says Dalton kinkaid,
I'm gonna erase you.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Stefan Diggs is a rased by Joey Porter Jr. You
got something there. I mean, I'll take Shakir trying to
beat me, and I'll take Dawson Knox trying to beat
me and James Cook trying to beat me.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So erase is a big word, of course, but if
they can, you know, not your life. Yeah, limit, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Speaking of James Cook, his usage in the passing game
has gone down a bit lately with Joe Brady. Started
at thirty one percent targets per route run last three games,
so that's down to thirteen percent, but he still gets
sixteen point seven carries per game, and he is three
point seven targets per game under Joe Brady. What's the
usage with James Cook there? They've gone away from him
in the passing game A little bit, little bit. Is
that a little bit of stonehands going on there, Matt,
(12:24):
Because I saw him have a layup touchdown on Sunday
Night Football. Alan just dropped it right in there.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But it was also like a wide receiver route, you know,
like he did really good grade there. Till Yeah, nail it.
I mean he's still touching the ball around twenty times
a game. Brady does get in the ball, but less
now in the in the passing game, he runs a
lot of routes on the slot and out wide. So
real recently, just a couple hours ago, I was doing
running back receiver homework and he and Jaylen Warren are
(12:53):
like neck and neck and all their receiver metrics at
the top of the league, like right there with McCaffrey, right,
I mean, so pretty impresives there, McCaffrey, Yeah, yeah, I
mean it was some of the best in the league
receiver wise.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
And then I mean there's Josh Allen. As far as
running the football. This season, he had thirteen percent of
the Bill's design rushing attempts. That's well below his career
average of eighteen percent. This is unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
This is unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, First, I was like, do I say text, Matt,
did he have a typo in this? Over the past
two games, the number of design runs is up to
thirty percent for Josh Allen.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like Dougie Harris.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's ridiculous. And then a scramble rate of nine percent
as well. So I mean almost forty percent of the
time the play ends with Josh Allen running the football,
whether by design or I got no one open, I'm
taking off.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
And as mention to start the show, they've been in
playoff mode now for a while. What are they doing
in there in playoff mode? Josh, just do whatever you guys,
running on your chest and go, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Get twenty seven rushing attempts over the past two games.
He has eight of the Bill's thirteen carries inside the
five yard line over the past four games. Allen also
rushed for sixty seven yards last week. I saw this
stat earlier today too, Matt. He was He's thirteen for
thirteen this year on third downs when it's less than
a yard to gain.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I mean, they're startingush push.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Can't be third and one against this team. It's just
not gonna go well.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
For He's gonna get on his own without the push too.
He's a powerful guy.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Now, this offensive line a lot of continuity here. Seventeen
games this year, they've started the same five offensive lineman
Mitch Morris of Cyrus, Torrance, Connor McGovern, Spencer Brown and
Dion Dawkins. They've missed just one hundred and nine snaps
total this season. But that's just you know, in and out,
in and out. Little yeah up there, a little bend
up there. But as the new week starts, they have
been the starter every time. And that they allow one
(14:29):
point four sacks per game. That's the best in the league,
and at home they only allow one point one. Now
they get a little bit of help because of that
will to beast back there.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
They're bouncing off like Ben.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, but still those guys can run into sacks a
lot too, and he doesn't. So this line I think
has been tremendous for Buffalo and in the running game too.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, it's much better than in previous years. As the
Steelers had last year, amazing continuity injury luck. You know,
now they're they're the team like that. The left tackle
Dawkins had a bad cut on his hand and on
Sunday night or yeah, we was Sunday night, last game
of the year, and he missed like thirty snaps. That's
why the number is so high. But he's gonna play.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You know, it's just a you know, Matt unbelievably. I'm
just thinking about this other time. Steelers had it again
this year.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Second straight year.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
They haven't got anybody hurt. Their only replacement was due
to a personnel choice, but he was Roderi Jones in.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Instead of chooing. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Two straight years without an offensive line major injury? That
that makes me nervous for all Right, Let's look at
the Bill's defense. They give up five point one yards
per play this season, and that's been the same over
their past three games. Their ninth and total defense three
hundred and seven yards allowed. There's seventh against the pass,
fifteenth against the run, and we'll get to that in
a second. That might be the Achilles heel. But they're
(15:37):
fourth and points per game allowed at eighteen point three.
They sacked the quarterback three point two times per game.
That's towards the top of the league. And this is
very impressive. Thirty takeaways, which only two other teams have more,
and they're tied with thirty one, so they have the
second most takeaways in the NFL. And we talked about
how Allen you know, he puts up a ton of touchdowns,
he puts up a ton of yards to make up
(15:57):
for his turnovers. But the defense is getting the ball
back as well.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
It makes up for Allen being as aggressive as he
is with the ball. And you know, they play a
lot of too high, a lot of zone, a lot
of nickel.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The good they live in nickel, right, they see them
a lot in nickel they have over the last time,
and they won't care that. The stewers want to run
the ball, right.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Probably not, especially now that Daikwan Jones is back. He's
their big defensive tackle that's more of the run stuffer,
so that allows them to do it a little bit more.
Earlier in the year they didn't have them. So we'll
see on the run defense.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
The Bill's defense allows a seventy two percent conversion rate.
As we mentioned before, league averages read round seventy. So
I mean you can stay on the field a bit
against this Buffalo team. And I think that's the plan
of attack for Pittsburgh is run the ball, not only
because that's the best way that your offense operates, but
keep Allen off the field as much as possible. They
make the scoring chances they can get.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, especially mixed with the weather, and I mean, you
want to shorten this game as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Who's the name on this defense? Who's the guy that
jumps out? I mean, I know von Miller.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Miller doesn't do much anymore.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, and they don't really play him that muchy.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
No, the safeties have gotten a little bit old, but
they've been a great pairing for a while.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Rall Douglas trade pretty good. He's hurt, really good, but
he's hurt right now.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Him and Gabe Davis are the injuries to really watch
their front line at. Oliver's having a good year. He's
a small, penetrating type. They've got a lot invested in
their defensive line and they kind of rotate them like
the hockey hockey lines. The linebacker Bernard has been a
pretty good player too. After Edmond's move on. Yeah, Milano
and White were their best guys and they're not in
(17:28):
the equation.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yeah, Milano out for the season. White and Milana both
out for the season. They've had a lot of injury problem.
White has really been just not able to.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Massive injury two years ago and never been the same.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, exactly, But despite all that, this is still a
stout defense. They have five defenders with five or more sacks,
and sixteen different players have recorded at least half a
sack this season, so they get a lot of sacks
three point two per game, and it's kind of every
hand in the pile. You don't know who's going to
have the big sack.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And again, a lot of defensive lineman rotation, so they
keep guys fresh. And Rousseau's a first round pick and
some of those guys, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
The defense for the Bills has been on the field
of four one thousand and seventy three snaps this season.
Twel Bernard leads the way with nine hundred ninety nine
snaps played, followed by Jordan Poyer and Tarron Johnson. Poyer
did miss one game. However, these three, along with Christian Benford,
played every snap last week in Miami. So those are
the faces that you should be familiar with on that
defensive side of the ball. But I mentioned the achilles heal.
(18:21):
It might be that running game. They're fifteenth in the NFL.
Last week Miami averaged five point four yards per carry
against the Bills. A chain seemed like he was having
anything he wanted. I don't know why Miami got run
as much as they do, especially the lead. I mean
they had a lead for the most of the game.
But you know that gives you encouragement if you're a
Steelers fan, because you've been running the ball really well
these past few weeks. It's been the catalyst for your
(18:43):
Rudolph noted, but that's been a big part of the
reason why you're having so much success. This defense, well,
will give you a lot more resistance as far as
the passing game, and Rudolph is concerned, this is the
toughest test he's going to have in this stretch. But
the running game, the run defense, ain't that still. It's
not like you're going back to playing that Patriots team.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Like No Good Point or the Ravens on their best day,
right right, So No, I do think that's a path.
It's almost always the path. And if Allon throws you
one or two and Rudolph doesn't throw, any other team
should be in it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Steelers offenses has gotten you know, a lot of iyer
this year, but I think it's fair to note per EPA,
only the Bengals and Colts have faced the tougher slate
of opposing defenses at Pittsburgh, and this is right at
the top of the list. Yeah, the Buffalo is just
as good as all the other ones.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Absolutely face absolutely another tough one.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Key matchups to highlight in this one, we start with
the Bills quarterback Josh Allen varus Steelers linebacker Lynn and Roberts.
First of all, Landon Roberts isn't human. I don't understand
how he keeps playing with these injuries. He's played with
a groin injury a few weeks ago, then was out
a couple of days, and then he's back again with
another injury. And he's very effective too. Like sometimes you
can go too hard and or you know, have too
much pride and play through an injury but hurt your
(19:49):
team because you're not healthy enough. That hasn't been the
case with Roberts. Great, and they need him, uh, but what.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Stap counts were down last week? They had four linebackers.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I'd rather have him in the uniform though.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I bet he plays a lot to say him and
tests though.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Trying to keep that guy, you know, locked in because like,
what do you do with Alan? You can't really spy
him because if you sacrifice that coverage, he's you're done, right,
But then if you don't spy him, you're done too.
He's he's a tough matchup, He's yeah. And then finally
we got the Steelers interior offensive line versus Bill's d
tackles at Oliver in Daykwon Jones. You mentioned Dakwon Droones recently,
(20:21):
and not only in pass protection, but pushing those guys
in the running game is a big deal.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
They're very different. Oliver's very undersize, just got a new contract,
sac guy Gino Atkins type, where Jones is the power player,
pocket pusher, double team eater. So they have a nice
situation going there, all.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Right, Steelers and Bills at one o'clock in Buffalo Sunday
is when they kick things off. Our coverage starts locally
at nine a m. On DVE from Matt Williamson on
Tom Opferman. Hopefully we'll be back again next week and
previewing the Steelers at Baltimore. If not, Matt, it's been fun.
I feel like last week, you know, we just we
just keep staying a long hair gonna do it again
(21:00):
next week. That's the positive vibes that we need. So
from Matt Williamson, I'm Tom Opperman. This has been the
Advanced Scout
We got some work to do.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is the Advanced Scout with Tom Opperman and Mac Williamson.
Steelers won their final three games of the season and
earned a playoff berth thanks to the help that they
got with the Titans beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. But the
Bills are also coming into this game red hot, Matt.
They have won five straight games to not only clinched
the playoff spot, but to snatch back the AFC East
(00:23):
from the Miami Dolphins. So two teams that are really
in great form as far as they're playing style right now.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And to be honest, that five game stretch for the
Bills and the three game stretch for the Steelers were
pretty darn close to the playoff games. I mean, both
these teams were beat against the wall, couldn't afford to
lose any of them.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Buffalo is seven to two the season at home. Pittsburgh
has won five of their eight games away from home,
so they are five and three on the road. Interesting
little nugget here, the Steelers have played eight games against
teams in the playoffs. They've won five of them. Yeah,
Bills are four and one. Though a lot of trends
there similarities between these two teams, but it also.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Shows I mean, you played eight games win or loss
against playoff teams. That's half your schedule against the best
teams in the league.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Here's the big difference between them though, minus twenty point
differential for the Steelers, the Bills are plus one forty.
As far as a little bit of point differentialist concern.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Of all the double digit win teams, Steelers are the
only ones with a negative one.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Thing I did find interesting in your stat pack as
far as what type of game this might be. For
the season, Buffalo is passing the football on fifty four
point one percent of their snaps in Pittsburgh at fifty
two point seven that's twenty seventh and twenty eighth lowest
in the league. But the past three weeks Buffalo is
forty seven percent, thirtieth in the league. Pittsburgh is thirty
nine point eight percent, thirty second in the league. For
the season, no offense throws the ball at a lower
(01:40):
clip at home than the Bills that's forty seven percent,
and no team throws the ball on the road at
a lower percentage than the Steelers, who do it at
forty seven percent. So run the fourth Iowa run the
football a lot in this game, even if it's snowing
or it's sunny or whatever. They run the football both teams.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
I mean I knew that both were, of course. I
mean we know running heavy. Yeah, heavy. I didn't think
it was that extreme for either one of them, especially
the Bills. He always to think of Josh Allenson.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I don't get the Bills won, especially at Well.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
He runs a lot too, although you.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Don't have that great of a home field advantage in
terms of throwing the football.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
In bufft No, No, I mean, is this game to
be two hours, especially with someone who works on the broadcast?
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I break serious history between these two. The Steelers
lead the series seventeen to twelve. Buffalo did win the
most recent matchup. It was a thirty eight to three
beating in Week five of the twenty twenty two season.
The Bills have won three of the most recent four
meetings between the teams. For that Pittsburgh was on a
six game winning streak, including a six game winning streak
against the Bills, and to take it a step further,
(02:39):
the Steelers won ten of eleven, including two in the playoffs,
between nineteen ninety three and twenty sixteen, but the air
between nineteen eighty and nineteen ninety two belonged to Buffalo.
The Bills won seven of eight during that time, and
this has been a very streaky series. The Bills and
Steelers started playing games in the seventies, and during the
nineteen seventies, Pittsburgh only lost one of six meetings. The
last time these franchises met in the playoffs was the
nineteen ninety five Divisional round Steelers victory. All time in
(03:02):
the playoffs, Pittsburgh has the two to one edge, But
this is the Steelers' first trip to Buffalo in the postseason,
and that's a different animal.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Different animal, no doubt. It's kind of interesting, you know,
as you're reading that, I mean the history, the Super
Bowl era for these teams. They both have had some
extreme highs. You know, they went to four straight Super
Bowl it's sane and right now they've been one of
the best teams of the last ten years. But one
team gets trophies out of it and one doesn't.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
You know, Let's start with the Bills offense, because I
think that's the side of the ball that steals all
the headlines in this matchup. Although the defense is great too,
don't get me wrong. But you look at that offense,
it's top ten as far as total yards is concerned,
a top five. Excuse me, it's fourth in that category,
they're eighth and passing offense, they're seventh in the rushing offense.
They're sixth in points per game. But they do have
(03:49):
twenty eight giveaways, which is ninth most in the NFL.
The average five point seven yards per play this season,
that's fourth best in the league. Over the past three games,
it's been five point five yards per play. And convert
a series of down to a new series of down
at the least third highest rate seventy seven percent. The
average is seventy percent. So they stay on the field
a lot, all a lot. They get a lot of yards.
I mean, other than the turnover aspect, it's almost a
(04:11):
perfect offense.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, it is one thing I don't love about their
offense that could come into play here, even though they
do run the ball a ton. I always thought they
should have a Jerome Bettis, you know, like if you're
going to host playoff games in Buffalo, New York. Yeah, yeah,
James Cook, I mean you're you're you're running, but your
quarterbacks are huge human being. But you'd like to close
teams out with a Bettis or an all start or
(04:33):
a guy like that, not James Cook in a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah, yeah, James Cook has been great for them. They
have something in the running game that they haven't had
other than Josh Allen recently. But I agree with you.
You know, one guy I thought they might kick the
tires on is maybe James Connor trade in the trade.
That's something that would be a perfect fit right now.
I know they got Leonard Fournette.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
No, but he's done any right.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, Connors ran for a thousand yards, So yeah, I
agree with you. That type of player, that type of
battering ram guy, especially.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Like that such Derrick Henry becomes available.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That's such a deadline acquisition. I feel like too for them.
You know, you're not asking them to come in and
be the number one, but we're gonna need you in
December and January.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yes, stay fresh, and we're gonna bludge in teams with
the lead in the snow, you know.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And now that might be Josh Allen doing the bludgeoning.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
And it has been the last two weeks.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
That could yeah, and it could work in this week
and you beat the Steelers. You might work the next
week and you in your next game, But there's a
ware that's going to start to take on him, especially
in these kind of games. They Let's be honest, man,
people hit a little harder when the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Oh yeah, more little too, Yeah yeah yeah. But if
I'm the owner of the Bills, what I'm paying that guy,
I don't want him to be my you know.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh Bills drop back to pass per EPA. Only the
San Francisco and Dallas Cowboys have been more effective. So
it's amazing to see that stat with all the turnovers
that they have, But it just shows you that his
yardage output and his touchdown output, which he leads the
league in total yards and total touchdowns, it overcomes all
of those interceptions.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
He really does. Mean, he's throw in the most interceptions
of his career. If you take the interceptions, I'll the
equation in which you can't, it's clearly his best year.
He'd probably be the league MVP. You know, he's playing
at a remarkably high level. He's an unbelievable force of nature,
but he's also a wild stallion that will if you
watch that Miami game, he throws two end zone picks
(06:13):
before you know it, and then before you know it,
he takes the game over.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Bad looking picks. Oh, he's just horrendous looking picks. But
he doesn't care. And that's such a big factor going
in his favor. Is Yeah, the Steelers need to turn
him over a few times in this game, I think.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
To win, I bet he throws them one.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
But you're never gonna get rattle him. That's the thing
that he's gonna.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Keep coming and coming and coming.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
So get a couple of picks, maybe force a fumble
on a stripsack. It points off of those, and then
he's kind of like hold the damn and hope that
he doesn't come back on.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Hoping the snow in the run game even sings out
a little bit, you know, And of course you don't
have what.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Just to put in perspective of how good Allen has been.
Of all quarterbacks with at least two to fifty pass attempts,
thirty one NFL passes have qualified Allen. It's tenth and
completion percentage, he's fourth in yards, he's ninth in yards
per attempt his fifth and touchdown passes. He's seventh and
average depth of target. Only eight of the thirty one
qualified passers have a higher average time to throw two
point seven seconds. Alan had a career high eighteen interceptions
(07:05):
this season, and only Sam Howt threw more. And like
I mentioned, total yards and total touchdowns, he's at the
top of both categories. Fifteen rushing touchdowns. Matt I saw
that today.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
My job was this insanity, right, And they're not all
push push plunges. He gets those, but he also gets
the long ones. I mean, he's a fantasy gold And
with respect to Diggs and Dave and their dudes, their
receivers aren't elite, you know, like Diggs has been slipping lately.
He's good, but the last couple of months haven't been phenomenal.
(07:36):
Can Cage's dangerous Cooks are really good receiving back, but
it's not I mean, there's better weapon groups out there.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, talking about the weapons for Josh Allen gave Davis,
who knows if he's going to be able to play
in this game. Didn't return against the Dolphins, So that's
never really a good sign if you don't return, especially
he left early in that game too, so he had
ample time to come back if he would have been
able to. So you're looking at Diggs obviously, and you're
probably looking at k Shakir, I.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Mean quality slot young player.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Yeah, nothing to really keep up though, for sure. And
then you have Dalton Kincaid and all of the combination
of Shakiir, digs In. Kincaid had at least six catches
and eighty four receiving yards in Week eighteen.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
So yeah, that's who they got the football.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
They got the football to those three guys. And Diggs
was had a really good performance rebounding last week with
seven catches and eighty seven yards against Miami because seven
games before that four point three receptions per game and
only thirty seven receiving yards per game. And yeah, and
you know, right, and you run the Mark Man Show
on Monday this week and you noted. You know, it's
not just production's gone down. He's not in the field
(08:37):
as much as he usually.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, maybe this sho happens, and it happened so often
the league, like once they get eliminated, Stefan Diggs getting
a scope on his own, Like, oh that adds up.
And maybe I don't know, but he's not young.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well we don't even have to ask this question anymore.
When it comes to Joey Porter Junior, he's going to
be following stiff On Diggs. Porter Junior average point nine
yards per coverage snap this season as the nearest defenders phenomenal.
I think he should actually be the NFL Rookie of
the Year defensively now because of how Jalen Carter has
kind of gone down as Porter's just kind of I know,
he's had his later start than Carter did, but he's
(09:12):
never really dropped off throughout the season.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
And now that they charged some of these stats like
that point nine yards, he's a little bit stronger case.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
Yeah, that's the fourth lowest of any NFL cornerback, No
rookie NFL cornerbacks againstos Gardner's are in there, like yeah,
all of the elite names that you're familiar.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
With against fourth Higgins and Metcalf and now Diggs. I
mean he's getting the toughest assignments too.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, no doubt. Where does Diggs ranking that hierarchy in
your eyes?
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I don't. I wish you didn't ask me, because before
the season I would have said four, five, six, DeVante
Adams neighborhood, But this year is I mean the whole
second half of the year. He has not been the
same at all.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Would you say Porter gone up against Jamar and DK
were a bit of tougher challenges in your eyes this year.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
Jamar, yes, DK, You're not saying Higgins no, DK. I'm
not sure. The thing is, though, digs on his best day,
which maybe they're Gettinghi on his best day after that
Miami game. He's an elite route runner, set up guy.
He might turn Porter into Knots. I mean he might.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
And I think the other factor of this Matt is
it probably is the best quarterback on the other end
of that equation that Melton had to face too.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Yeah, I thought Gino played well, but this is.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
True, but it's a different ends. Differently, we're talking to
top three dude potentially, but the weather won't hurt Dalton
Kinkaid is a target share of twenty five twenty two
percent over the past two games, Dawston Knox returning fourteen,
and since then he has only been on the field
seventy one percent of the snaps. I'm talking about Dalton
Kincaid there. So they have started to split a little
bit of the tight end duties between Knox and Kincaid.
(10:41):
But that would be my attack plan if I'm Joe Brady,
this Bill's offensive coordinator, because I see the success that
teams like the Cardinals and the Patriots had with tight ends,
and I got two pretty good tight ends here. And
Kinkaid's really starting to come into his.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Own, huge believer. I mean, he's he's equal parts wide
out in tight end. He's not going to uproot, you know,
defensive ends in the run game or anything like that.
You can move player. He's like two hundred and forty pounds,
runs really well, sharp route runner. But yes, you don't
have Wat, which is awful. But I think you're gonna
have Menca. I think you're gonna have KZ. I think
Peterson moves back to the corner, which puts Wallace on
(11:14):
the bench. Your linebacker situation is better. So the back
seven might be the best the Steelers have had it
for I don't know, five or six weeks, no doubt
about that. Maybe Mika just lines it. Maybe it's Porter
on Digs and Minco on Kincaid and let the chips
follow they've you know where they may.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
You know, it's hard to you know, reference this game
because they just got blown out. But when you look
at the Niners game in Week one, Minka drew George
Kittle a lot, yeah, coverage and erase them. I mean
he really everybody, everybody else was a factor in that
game for the Niners, but Kittle was very quiet because
of Minka. So yeah, maybe Minka just says Dalton kinkaid,
I'm gonna erase you.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
Stefan Diggs is a rased by Joey Porter Jr. You
got something there. I mean, I'll take Shakir trying to
beat me, and I'll take Dawson Knox trying to beat
me and James Cook trying to beat me.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So erase is a big word, of course, but if
they can, you know, not your life. Yeah, limit, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Speaking of James Cook, his usage in the passing game
has gone down a bit lately with Joe Brady. Started
at thirty one percent targets per route run last three games,
so that's down to thirteen percent, but he still gets
sixteen point seven carries per game, and he is three
point seven targets per game under Joe Brady. What's the
usage with James Cook there? They've gone away from him
in the passing game A little bit, little bit. Is
that a little bit of stonehands going on there, Matt,
(12:24):
Because I saw him have a layup touchdown on Sunday
Night Football. Alan just dropped it right in there.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
But it was also like a wide receiver route, you know,
like he did really good grade there. Till Yeah, nail it.
I mean he's still touching the ball around twenty times
a game. Brady does get in the ball, but less
now in the in the passing game, he runs a
lot of routes on the slot and out wide. So
real recently, just a couple hours ago, I was doing
running back receiver homework and he and Jaylen Warren are
(12:53):
like neck and neck and all their receiver metrics at
the top of the league, like right there with McCaffrey, right,
I mean, so pretty impresives there, McCaffrey, Yeah, yeah, I
mean it was some of the best in the league
receiver wise.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
And then I mean there's Josh Allen. As far as
running the football. This season, he had thirteen percent of
the Bill's design rushing attempts. That's well below his career
average of eighteen percent. This is unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
This is unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah, First, I was like, do I say text, Matt,
did he have a typo in this? Over the past
two games, the number of design runs is up to
thirty percent for Josh Allen.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like Dougie Harris.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
It's ridiculous. And then a scramble rate of nine percent
as well. So I mean almost forty percent of the
time the play ends with Josh Allen running the football,
whether by design or I got no one open, I'm
taking off.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
And as mention to start the show, they've been in
playoff mode now for a while. What are they doing
in there in playoff mode? Josh, just do whatever you guys,
running on your chest and go, you know.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Get twenty seven rushing attempts over the past two games.
He has eight of the Bill's thirteen carries inside the
five yard line over the past four games. Allen also
rushed for sixty seven yards last week. I saw this
stat earlier today too, Matt. He was He's thirteen for
thirteen this year on third downs when it's less than
a yard to gain.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
I mean, they're startingush push.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Can't be third and one against this team. It's just
not gonna go well.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
For He's gonna get on his own without the push too.
He's a powerful guy.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Now, this offensive line a lot of continuity here. Seventeen
games this year, they've started the same five offensive lineman
Mitch Morris of Cyrus, Torrance, Connor McGovern, Spencer Brown and
Dion Dawkins. They've missed just one hundred and nine snaps
total this season. But that's just you know, in and out,
in and out. Little yeah up there, a little bend
up there. But as the new week starts, they have
been the starter every time. And that they allow one
(14:29):
point four sacks per game. That's the best in the league,
and at home they only allow one point one. Now
they get a little bit of help because of that
will to beast back there.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
They're bouncing off like Ben.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Yeah, but still those guys can run into sacks a
lot too, and he doesn't. So this line I think
has been tremendous for Buffalo and in the running game too.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Yeah, it's much better than in previous years. As the
Steelers had last year, amazing continuity injury luck. You know,
now they're they're the team like that. The left tackle
Dawkins had a bad cut on his hand and on
Sunday night or yeah, we was Sunday night, last game
of the year, and he missed like thirty snaps. That's
why the number is so high. But he's gonna play.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
You know, it's just a you know, Matt unbelievably. I'm
just thinking about this other time. Steelers had it again
this year.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Second straight year.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
They haven't got anybody hurt. Their only replacement was due
to a personnel choice, but he was Roderi Jones in.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Instead of chooing. What's going on?
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Two straight years without an offensive line major injury? That
that makes me nervous for all Right, Let's look at
the Bill's defense. They give up five point one yards
per play this season, and that's been the same over
their past three games. Their ninth and total defense three
hundred and seven yards allowed. There's seventh against the pass,
fifteenth against the run, and we'll get to that in
a second. That might be the Achilles heel. But they're
(15:37):
fourth and points per game allowed at eighteen point three.
They sacked the quarterback three point two times per game.
That's towards the top of the league. And this is
very impressive. Thirty takeaways, which only two other teams have more,
and they're tied with thirty one, so they have the
second most takeaways in the NFL. And we talked about
how Allen you know, he puts up a ton of touchdowns,
he puts up a ton of yards to make up
(15:57):
for his turnovers. But the defense is getting the ball
back as well.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
It makes up for Allen being as aggressive as he
is with the ball. And you know, they play a
lot of too high, a lot of zone, a lot
of nickel.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
The good they live in nickel, right, they see them
a lot in nickel they have over the last time,
and they won't care that. The stewers want to run
the ball, right.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
Probably not, especially now that Daikwan Jones is back. He's
their big defensive tackle that's more of the run stuffer,
so that allows them to do it a little bit more.
Earlier in the year they didn't have them. So we'll
see on the run defense.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
The Bill's defense allows a seventy two percent conversion rate.
As we mentioned before, league averages read round seventy. So
I mean you can stay on the field a bit
against this Buffalo team. And I think that's the plan
of attack for Pittsburgh is run the ball, not only
because that's the best way that your offense operates, but
keep Allen off the field as much as possible. They
make the scoring chances they can get.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, especially mixed with the weather, and I mean, you
want to shorten this game as much as possible.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Who's the name on this defense? Who's the guy that
jumps out? I mean, I know von Miller.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Miller doesn't do much anymore.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, and they don't really play him that muchy.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
No, the safeties have gotten a little bit old, but
they've been a great pairing for a while.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Rall Douglas trade pretty good. He's hurt, really good, but
he's hurt right now.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Him and Gabe Davis are the injuries to really watch
their front line at. Oliver's having a good year. He's
a small, penetrating type. They've got a lot invested in
their defensive line and they kind of rotate them like
the hockey hockey lines. The linebacker Bernard has been a
pretty good player too. After Edmond's move on. Yeah, Milano
and White were their best guys and they're not in
(17:28):
the equation.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yeah, Milano out for the season. White and Milana both
out for the season. They've had a lot of injury problem.
White has really been just not able to.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Massive injury two years ago and never been the same.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, exactly, But despite all that, this is still a
stout defense. They have five defenders with five or more sacks,
and sixteen different players have recorded at least half a
sack this season, so they get a lot of sacks
three point two per game, and it's kind of every
hand in the pile. You don't know who's going to
have the big sack.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
And again, a lot of defensive lineman rotation, so they
keep guys fresh. And Rousseau's a first round pick and
some of those guys, you know.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
The defense for the Bills has been on the field
of four one thousand and seventy three snaps this season.
Twel Bernard leads the way with nine hundred ninety nine
snaps played, followed by Jordan Poyer and Tarron Johnson. Poyer
did miss one game. However, these three, along with Christian Benford,
played every snap last week in Miami. So those are
the faces that you should be familiar with on that
defensive side of the ball. But I mentioned the achilles heal.
(18:21):
It might be that running game. They're fifteenth in the NFL.
Last week Miami averaged five point four yards per carry
against the Bills. A chain seemed like he was having
anything he wanted. I don't know why Miami got run
as much as they do, especially the lead. I mean
they had a lead for the most of the game.
But you know that gives you encouragement if you're a
Steelers fan, because you've been running the ball really well
these past few weeks. It's been the catalyst for your
(18:43):
Rudolph noted, but that's been a big part of the
reason why you're having so much success. This defense, well,
will give you a lot more resistance as far as
the passing game, and Rudolph is concerned, this is the
toughest test he's going to have in this stretch. But
the running game, the run defense, ain't that still. It's
not like you're going back to playing that Patriots team.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Like No Good Point or the Ravens on their best day,
right right, So No, I do think that's a path.
It's almost always the path. And if Allon throws you
one or two and Rudolph doesn't throw, any other team
should be in it.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Steelers offenses has gotten you know, a lot of iyer
this year, but I think it's fair to note per EPA,
only the Bengals and Colts have faced the tougher slate
of opposing defenses at Pittsburgh, and this is right at
the top of the list. Yeah, the Buffalo is just
as good as all the other ones.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Absolutely face absolutely another tough one.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Key matchups to highlight in this one, we start with
the Bills quarterback Josh Allen varus Steelers linebacker Lynn and Roberts.
First of all, Landon Roberts isn't human. I don't understand
how he keeps playing with these injuries. He's played with
a groin injury a few weeks ago, then was out
a couple of days, and then he's back again with
another injury. And he's very effective too. Like sometimes you
can go too hard and or you know, have too
much pride and play through an injury but hurt your
(19:49):
team because you're not healthy enough. That hasn't been the
case with Roberts. Great, and they need him, uh, but what.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Stap counts were down last week? They had four linebackers.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I'd rather have him in the uniform though.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
I bet he plays a lot to say him and
tests though.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Trying to keep that guy, you know, locked in because like,
what do you do with Alan? You can't really spy
him because if you sacrifice that coverage, he's you're done, right,
But then if you don't spy him, you're done too.
He's he's a tough matchup, He's yeah. And then finally
we got the Steelers interior offensive line versus Bill's d
tackles at Oliver in Daykwon Jones. You mentioned Dakwon Droones recently,
(20:21):
and not only in pass protection, but pushing those guys
in the running game is a big deal.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
They're very different. Oliver's very undersize, just got a new contract,
sac guy Gino Atkins type, where Jones is the power player,
pocket pusher, double team eater. So they have a nice
situation going there, all.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Right, Steelers and Bills at one o'clock in Buffalo Sunday
is when they kick things off. Our coverage starts locally
at nine a m. On DVE from Matt Williamson on
Tom Opferman. Hopefully we'll be back again next week and
previewing the Steelers at Baltimore. If not, Matt, it's been fun.
I feel like last week, you know, we just we
just keep staying a long hair gonna do it again
(21:00):
next week. That's the positive vibes that we need. So
from Matt Williamson, I'm Tom Opperman. This has been the
Advanced Scout
Popular Podcasts
1. Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
2. Stuff You Missed in History Class
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.
3. Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.