Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills knew passing the ball could be problematic in Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. To start with, the Bills' aerial attack has been inconsistent all season, and Pittsburgh has one of the best pass rushers in the league in T.J. Watt.
Just 10 days earlier, quarterback Josh Allen was sacked a career-high eight times, and was beaten up all night by the Houston Texans' pass rush. If that wasn't enough, the Bills went into Pittsburgh without both starting offensive tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown.
This matchup screamed, "lean on the run game."
The Bills didn't just lean on the run game. They went old school football. We will line up our guys, you line up your guys, and lets see who wins the battle up front.
Buffalo kicked the Steelers' butts all over the field at Acrisure Stadium in a historic performance. Buffalo ran the ball 51 times (while passing just 23) for 249 yards. It was the most rushing yards by a visiting team against the Steelers in 50 years!
The Bills kept running the same play all game long, and Pittsburgh couldn't stop it.
James Cook had a career-high 32 carries and finished with 144 yards. He consistently bounced runs to the outside, and beat Steelers defenders to the edge.
Ray Davis, who had just 44 yards on 24 carries this season, ran it nine times for 62 yards.
I'll do the math for you: Cook and Davis combined to average five yards a carry.
Credit should go to the five offensive linemen, who won their matchup from start-to-finish, allowing the Bills to possess the ball for 42 of the game's 60 minutes. A tip of the cap to Ryan Van Demark, David Edwards, Connor McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence and Alec Anderson.
But they had help too, as the Bills' wide receivers, tight ends, and fullback Reggie Gilliam added to that ground game success with their blocking efforts.
The Bills had 32 plays on first down. They ran the ball on 28 of those 32 plays and averaged 5.2 yards per-play.
When the Bills did pass the ball, Allen was making quick, short throws. He finished the game with just 15-of-23 pass attempts for 123 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The wide receiving group, which featured the return of Keon Coleman and the Bills debut of Brandin Cooks, combined for just five catches for 32 yards. Coleman did have a two-yard touchdown catch, while Cooks caught one ball for 13 yards.
Getting the ball out fast was a big reason why Allen was not sacked a single time.
But this game wasn't just about the Bills' rushing attack.
It was the best 60-minute performance by the defense all season. They also dominated their matchup, and did so while playing without Ed Oliver, Michael Hoecht and Terrel Bernard.
The Steelers offense had 10 possessions and only scored one touchdown. Half of those 10 drives produced fewer than 10 yards.
In total, Pittsburgh was held to 166 yards. The Bills gave up a season-low 58 yards rushing on 18 carries, an average of just 3.2 yards per-carry.
The pass defense did its job as well. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed only 10 of his 21 passes for 117 yards.
Top wideout D.K. Metcalf had just three catches for 32 yards.
The defense also scored as many touchdowns as the Steelers offense, and that defensive touchdown is what really changed the game.
The Bills trailed 7-3 at halftime, despite a 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession. The Bills offense hurt themselves with a pair of turnovers and some penalties in the first half.
On the very first snap of the third quarter, pass rusher Joey Bosa sacked Rodgers and forced a fumble. It was cornerback Christian Benford scooping up the loose ball and running it in for the first touchdown of his career.
The Bills took a 10-7 lead, and took over from there.
Benford then added an interception on the next Pittsburgh drive, which the offense turned into another touchdown.
Bills notes:
- Allen had a rushing touchdown, the 76th of his career. He is now first all-time in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
- Benford is just the third Bills player ever to have a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception in the same game.
- This was just the second game this season where the Bills did not allow a sack.
- It was the first game this season the Bills won when scoring less than 28 points. They were 0-4.
- The Coleman touchdown catch in the third quarter snapped a streak of 15-straight drives without a touchdown from the offense.
- Bosa's forced fumble was his fifth of the season, tying the Bills' single-season record.
- The rollercoaster ride continues, as the Bills have alternated a win and a loss for five-straight games.
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