The Steelers’ Keys To Victory Against The Bills In Week 13

The Bills defend tight ends well, but the Steelers have to get their 311-pound weapon involved early and often in Week 13. Darnell Washington is a freak and needs to be utilized more. He is having a career year so far. The return of Aaron Rodgers should lead to more touches for him. Buffalo’s defense isn’t unbeatable. Find Mount Washington and let him cook. He is impossible to tackle in open space. It’s like trying to tackle a Chevrolet Silverado. 

4. Watch Out For Khalil Shakir

Last time Pittsburgh and the Bills met, Josh Allen’s go-to weapon, Gabe Davis, caught three passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Khalil Shakir is Allen’s new favorite weapon in the receiver room, and the Steelers have to keep an eye on him, or things will get ugly. This season, Shakir has caught 54 passes for 564 yards and three touchdowns, but he is due for a gargantuan game. It can’t happen in Pittsburgh. 

3. Force Turnovers

The Steelers’ defense has been underwhelming on many levels this season, but they have proved that forcing turnovers is the key to winning games. When they made the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts cough the ball up, they won. Allen has cleaned up his turnover problem over the past few seasons, but Pittsburgh needs it to flare back up this weekend. Get to the reigning MVP and make him make mental mistakes. 

2. Feed The Running Backs

The Bills aren’t great at keeping running backs under control. They allow 118 rushing yards per game and 15 touchdowns to the position in 11 games. It’s time for the Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell show. It doesn’t matter which one eats, but somebody has to. Gainwell is coming off a great game against the Chicago Bears, and Warren is always ready to run someone over. Get them the ball early and often. Let them cook. 

1. Contain Josh Allen

The worst part about playing Allen is that even if his arm isn’t doing it, his legs can. He is 4-1 against Tomlin’s Steelers in his career and 1-0 in the Steel City. Last time they met, Allen completed 20 of his 31 passes for 424 yards and four touchdowns, beating Pittsburgh 38-3. The Steelers can’t let him control the game. Stay in his face all day and don’t give him any room to breathe. He is a game-changer. Don’t let him change the game. That should be this week’s Tomlinism. 

End Of My Pittsburgh Steelers Rant

Somehow, Pittsburgh still controls its own fate, and it starts with Buffalo. The Steelers are 5-4 against the Bills since Mike Tomlin arrived in 2007, but all four losses have been to Allen. Buffalo has lost two of their last three games. They will be hungry coming into the Steel City. Josh Allen has been sacked 28 times this season, including eight times against the Houston Texans last week. He will be looking to take out some anger, but it can’t happen this week.