Steelers vs Bills: Live Game Updates, Reactions and Community
Stay connected during the Pittsburgh Steelers' game. As kickoff gets under way, join Noah Strackbein and all of Steelers Nation to discuss each moment of Week 15. Noah will be chatting with all comments below.
Inactives
Noah - Soft Mike Tomlin gives Trey Edmunds a helmet for the Steelers final home game. The Edmunds brothers said they'll have 30-plus family and friends in the stands tonight. Mom, otherwise known as "Cookie", got a bus for everyone attending.
Noah - All 13 Steelers starting defenders get introduced. Last game at Heinz Field this season they might as well introduce the group that led them all season.
First Quarter
Bills 0 | Steelers 0
Noah - Great pass defense by T.J. Watt. Lineman on his legs, still got a hand up to bat the pass.
Noah - And James Conner is back for the #Steelers. 15-yard gain for the running back in his first game back.
Noah - "Number 72 has reported as eligible" and the crowd goes wild.
Noah - Duck doesn't throw ducks. He just did. Pass intercepted by White.
Noah - Instead of attacking the quarterback, T.J. Watt took away the outside route for Josh Allen. Forced him to look for his second option over the middle. An undervalued play by Watt.
Noah - Jordan Berry's 22-yard punt was worse than Devlin Hodge's interception. That's virtually two turnovers for the Steelers who have thrown 8 of their last 9 plays.
Second Quarter
Bills 7 | Steelers 3
Noah - Time of possession in Buffalo's favor in the first quarter 9:13 to 5:47. Steelers have been pass-heavy early, but with little success.
Noah - The first designed quarterback run of the night goes for six. Josh Allen 1-yard touchdown. Bills offense isn't looking 'good' but it's doing more than the Steelers. This is another defensive game for Pittsburgh.
Noah - It's not a terrible drive by the offense but Devlin Hodges is making nothing happen because he has no time to make things happen. Too much pressure on the quarterback to expect him to keep drives alive. His deep pass to James Washington was because he had time to make a throw.
Noah - Steven Nelson said his season with the Steelers was missing one thing - more interceptions. There you go. Steelers ball on the Bills side of the 50.
Noah - Why is the wildcat still a thing? That play was a disaster from the beginning. Steven Nelson gives the Steelers momentum and the offense throws it away. A revolving theme of the season and could come back to haunt them in this one.
Halftime Thoughts
Noah - The Steelers offense is keeping this game in Buffalo's favor for too long. Devlin Hodges has no time to throw the football and the running game is non-existent. If James Conner is hurting again it's time put Benny Snell in the game. Relying on Whyte to lead the backfield is not ideal when you have a rookie playing well.
The defense is giving everyone a chance, but they can only do so much. This might be another game where a defensive touchdown is the only way to win. But if we're being serious, it's a real possibility that they can get a score for their offense.
Second half changes need to come to the ground game. This offense cannot be a throwing unit, even if they're down. Conner and Snell need to gain traction and take the pressure off Hodges. Allow the defense to fill the box and let Hodges do what he does best - throw deep.
Third Quarter
Bills 7 | Steelers 10
Noah - James Conner isn't playing timid like he did in his first return from his shoulder injury. If he's actually healthy right now the Steelers cannot stop riding him this game.
Noah - T.J. Watt forces his sixth fumble of the season. Turns a lengthy run into a turnover. Changes momentum for the Steelers. DPOY-type play? I'd say yes.
Noah - Jordan Berry has punted twice this game - 22 and 39 yards. There has to be something up with him for those types of kicks. Especially in the season he's having.
Noah - That's a good look from Devlin Hodges but a bad throw. You put that in front of Diontae Johnson and it's a catch.
Fourth Quarter
Bills 17 | Steelers 10
Noah - Jordan Berry is wearing sweatpants on the sideline. Looks like there's reasons behind his poor punting day.
Noah - Terrell Edmunds has too much Sean Davis in him. He makes plays and looks like an early-round pick at times but for the most part he's almost a liability no the field. On that touchdown he was extremely late to the ball.
Noah - Hodges threw that off his back foot and didn't have a defender about to hit him. No need for it. Dion Cain was open if he threw that normally but undrafted rookies will be undrafted rookies.
Noah - For the first time this season, Devlin Hodges played like a rookie.
Final Thoughts
Noah - Devlin Hodges was hard to overcome for the Steelers late but until this offense starts to flow somehow they won't win crucial games. James Conner was pulling this team out of the gutter and suddenly was no where to be found.
Then, questionable decisions like Zach Gentry being on the field for a fourth down instead of Diontae Johnson were made. You question so much about this offense from time to time that it makes you wonder how they've done enough to win as much as they have.
Defensively, it was a game like the rest. T.J. Watt is the clear Defensive Player of the Year and Cameron Heyward is putting on an All-Pro performance.
Pittsburgh still sits in the sixth seed and they aren't dead yet. They need to go to New York with something to prove and hope the Titans continue to fall when needed.
