Steelers vs Bills: Top 5 bold predictions for Week 1 matchup
By Andrew Falce
The Steelers start their season with a stiff competitor in the Bills. Here are five bold predictions for the team in Week 1.
The Steelers are set to open their 2021 season against the Bills this Sunday. After a long and competitive offseason, the team faces a stiff Week 1 competitor in Buffalo. A team that has had their number in their previous meetings, the Bills boast a solid defense and an electric offense. While a win isn’t impossible, the team has a tall task ahead of them in Week 1. Here are five bold predictions for the Steelers vs the Bills in Week 1.
Steelers defense takes a step back
One of the strongest aspects of this Steelers team is the dominance of their defense. It took a while to build up, this group boasts a potent front seven and a talented secondary. While the defense should still be good, they did lose quite a few talented players in free agency.
Both Bud Dupree and Mike Hilton signed respectable deals while Steven Nelson ended up being cut and eventually landed with the Eagles. Add in Stephon Tuitt’s early trip to injured reserve and this defense is down a few critical pieces.
This doesn’t mean this group will fall apart though. Expect the pass rush to still be there while newcomers like Alex Highsmith, Melvin Ingram, and James Pierre all looked great in camp. That said, this defense is notably worse now than it was last year.
The Bills put up 26 points on the unit a year ago and Stephon Diggs was electric as a receiver while facing a better secondary. Don’t be surprised if similar results occur in week one. The Steelers defense should still be good but expect them to be a step behind where the unit was at last year.