Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday afternoon in an AFC Wild Card Round at Highmark Stadium. The winner advances to the AFC Divisional Round.
For the Bills to do that, here are my three keys, plus notes and stats:
1.) Take advantage of the elements
While it won't be nearly as windy or snowy Monday as it would have been on Sunday, those elements will still have an impact on the game.
The Bills should have an advantage with quarterback Josh Allen's strong arm able to handle it. They shouldn't have to scale back their game plan, whereas the Steelers may have to do that a bit with Mason Rudolph under center.
2.) Limit Pickens and Johnson
Since Rudolph became the Steelers' starting quarterback, he's done a great job of getting the ball to his top-two wideouts - George Pickens and Diontae Johnson.
Combined over the last three games, they've totaled 25 catches for 506 yards and three touchdowns. Also over that span, Pickens has an 86-yard touchdown catch and Johnson has a 71-yard touchdown grab.
The Bills' secondary has to be aware of where both of them are, and know that Rudolph will often be looking to get the ball to one of them to make a big play.
3.) Get up early
The Bills have lost several games this season to far inferior opponents. In all of those games, they made too many mistakes that allowed that team to stay in the game longer and longer.
If they do that against the Steelers, and especially if Pittsburgh takes a lead, the Steelers will be more than willing to grind the ball, shorten the game, and leave little margin for error for the Bills.
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