ORCHARD PARK, NY (GSM) — It wasn’t exactly the usual frozen tundra-like weather in the Buffalo region, but the Steelers headed back to Pittsburgh after the Bills gave them the cold shoulder.
The Steelers looked fatigued throughout the matchup — having played 3 games in 12 days due to wacky schedule changes due to COVID violations from other teams — and with the continued dropped passes by receivers, they lacked the usual confidence to attain victory.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw 2 interceptions — one of which was returned for a touchdown — helped seal the deal for the Bills’ 26-15 victory. “We are not playing good football,” Roethlisberger said, “I’ll do everything I can to get us back on track.”
Despite throwing two touchdowns, one to James Washington and another to JuJu Smith-Schuster, Roethlisberger referenced the lack of finishing power by the Steelers offense, but remained optimistic, “We all need to look in the mirror and understand that we all need to be better. I think that we will be.”
The Bills, however, gained most of their momentum in the 2nd half by scoring 14 unanswered points. Wide receivers Stephon Diggs and Gabriel Davis scored touchdown passes from Josh Allen on back-to-back possessions.
Pittsburgh fell to 11-2 on the season and slipped to 2nd place in the AFC after a must needed win to secure the top spot. The Bills improved to 10-3 and control their own destiny to win the AFC East, if they do, it will be the first time since 1989.
BRIAN COOK IS AN EMMY-NOMINATED INTERNATIONAL JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN COVERING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE SINCE 2005. HE CAN BE REACHED AT BCOOK@GOLDENSKYMEDIA.COM.
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