BRIAN BATKO’S SCOUTING REPORT

The Steelers head into what might be their toughest matchup all season, on the road at Buffalo and the raucous “Bills Mafia” fanbase. After watching our Fan Advantage video earlier this week, here’s the rest of what you need to know.

THE FAN ADVANTAGE

Sure, outside linebacker Alex Highsmith has been consistent and leads the NFL with 5.5 sacks. But without Watt, All-Pro defensive lineman Cam Heyward has been double-teamed. The Steelers need Heyward to step up now more than ever, whether it’s flushing Allen out of the backfield and into trouble, tipping a pass or getting a sack himself. Heyward has just one tackle for loss, one pass deflected and zero quarterback hits the past three weeks with Watt out.

“You’ve got to get multiple guys to the ball, and then they have an extra blocker when he does run,” Heyward said of Allen.

But there is some hope. Allen has had seven passes batted this year, second only to Baker Mayfield. And even if Heyward is

slowed by ankle and elbow issues, with his strength, he’s probably the Steeler best-equipped to bring down Allen if he gets to him.

Heyward hasn’t gone four games in a row without a sack since early last year and hasn’t gone four straight without at least a quarterback hit since 2012, his second season. In the Steelers’ Week 1 upset win in Buffalo a year ago, Heyward had a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage to force a three-and-out on the Bills’ first possession, a forced fumble and a sack of Allen that led to Miles Killebrew’s game-changing blocked punt.

“Nope,” Heyward said when asked if he takes anything out of that stellar performance last season. “New teams. We have a different quarterback. We have different guys playing right now. I’m excited to go up there, but I don’t put any stock in what we did last year.”