The blueprint for survival and success for the Pittsburgh Steelers this week looks the same as it has for years: everything begins with T.J. Watt. The heartbeat of Pittsburgh’s defense, Watt is once again positioned to dictate the tone of a ballgame that will define the Steelers’ staying power in an increasingly crowded AFC playoff race.
Against Josh Allen—a signal-caller who is asked to carry more offensive weight than anyone in football—Watt’s presence becomes even more central to Pittsburgh’s path toward a critical late-season win.
Allen has been Buffalo’s engine, lifeline, and problem-solver rolled into one. And while he possesses the rare talent capable of breaking a game wide open at any moment, he’s also at his most vulnerable when his operating space evaporates -- exactly where Watt and the rest of Pittsburgh’s front come into play.
Watt’s ability to wreck plays from anywhere along the formation forces quarterbacks to speed up, drift, or retreat -- none of which any offense wants as its baseline rhythm. His timing, counters, and unmatched motor force a level of chaos that even someone as physically gifted as Allen must constantly account for on each and every snap.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need an explosive game from their trio of edge rushers to stop Josh Allen
But Watt is only the beginning.
Alex Highsmith is back and continues to evolve into one of the league’s most complete edge defenders. His ability to compress edges and close escape lanes is essential against Allen, whose off-script brilliance can erase perfect coverage in an instant.
Then there's Nick Herbig, who adds the third-wave pressure that could prevent Buffalo from settling into predictable blocking rules. His emergence gives Pittsburgh something it hasn’t consistently had in recent years: a rotational rusher who can threaten the edge with true speed while also stunting inside with effectiveness, and then there’s Cam Heyward, the veteran beacon who still commands respect in the interior.
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Herbig's power and ability to collapse with consistency keep quarterbacks from stepping up comfortably -- a detail that matters immensely against a passer who thrives on resetting and launching vertical shots.
The bottom line—the veterans set the standard, Watt sets the tone.
And in a game of this magnitude, where every possession will feel like its own mini-battle, Pittsburgh’s defensive front has to force Allen into constantly operating under duress. If they accomplish that, if they muddy his platform, shrink his windows, and keep him from extending plays, the Steelers won’t just stay alive in the AFC playoff picture; they’ll send a statement across the conference.