USA TODAY International Edition
Steelers rally to beat the Bills in opener
Bills’ Super Bowl hopes get checked with letdown at home
With a 23- 16 win, Pittsburgh is among the pack of road teams celebrating victory in Sunday's early NFL Week 1 games.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger seemed to be shaking off the cobwebs. Rookie Steelers running back Najee Harris has trouble breaking free in his first career game.
And it was a shame because the Steelers defense, one of the best in the NFL, did its best to slow down Bills quarterback Josh Allen and his explosive offense during the first three quarters of Sunday’s 1 p. m. ET matchup.
The Steelers looked very much like the team that fell flat toward the end of the 2020 season. That was until they came alive in the fourth quarter and put the NFL on notice with their dominant finish on the road against Buffalo.
Roethlisberger threw a 5- yard touchdown pass to receiver Dionte Johnson, and the Steelers returned a blocked punt for another TD less than two minutes later to take a commanding lead and beat the Bills 23- 16 at New Era Field.
Where the game turned for Pittsburgh was a pivotal fourth- down play by the Bills: Allen threw a short pass backward to backup running back Matt Breida, who was quickly tackled in the backfield by Steelers defensive back Cam Sutton. It was a turnover that gave the Steelers new life in a game they trailed 10- 0 after halftime and put the Bills behind for the rest of the game.
On the ensuing drive, Roethlisberger found receiver Chase Claypool smothered by Bills defensive back Levi Wallace for a pass interference call, Harris had his best run of the day for 18 yards, and Roethlisberger found Johnson in the end zone to take the lead.
While the Bills answered with a field goal on their next drive, the Steelers put the game away with one of their own with less than three minutes left.
Roethlisberger struggled most of the game, completing 18 of 32 passes for 188 yards. Some of his passes were simply off target. The Bills defense harassed him and the Steelers offense much of the day. Harris also had troubles.
The Steelers defense is one of the deepest in the NFL – behind outside linebacker T. J. Watt, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive lineman Cam Hayward – primed to help Pittsburgh make a deep run in the playoffs.
As for Buffalo, Allen and star receiver Stefon Diggs remain a formidable onetwo punch. And the Bills defense is just as talented as Pittsburgh’s.
But Pittsburgh kicked off this season making a statement: If Roethlisberger can deliver in key moments, his teammates can take them over the hump.