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Steelers-Bills: Live chat, updates and analysis
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Brian Batko
2:37
Hi everyone, checking in from Acrisure Stadium where there is a looot of blue in the stands already and in the surrounding tailgates.
2:43
Asante Samuel Jr. will make his Steelers debut today. Well, I should say he's active and in line to make his debut, but that might require a cornerback injury or some special teams duties. So we'll see on that. Inactives will be out shortly. My guesses, as always: Will Howard (QB3), Derrick Harmon ... and it's already tricky. Let's go Brodric Martin (or Logan Lee). And then, I guess, Scotty Miller and Ke'Shawn Williams. But I would not at all be surprised if Darius Slay is a healthy scratch with Samuel in the mix now.
KJ
2:43
With the Bills not having both of their starting offensive tackles today along without their #1 ILB, doesn't Buffalo have the Steelers right where they want them?  As we have seen this season, backups and reserve players dominate the Steelers.
Brian Batko
2:47
Ha. Yeah, the Chargers were also missing both tackles when they faced them. And the Bears were missing ILBs No. 1, 2 AND 3. But I still think you want the Bills backups out there against TJ Watt/Alex Highsmith/Nick Herbig -- obviously.
JPinPDX
2:51
Hey BB! What, if any, long term impact do you see this IR stint having on B Jones tenure in the Burgh?
Brian Batko
2:52
What's up JP? That's hard to say right now, but yes, big news this afternoon from Gerry Dulac that Broderick Jones is expected to be out for the season. Never good to hear that from a neck injury. I can't help but think of Ryan Watts going down in that last preseason game last year, they called it a stinger, and next thing we knew he was in a neck brace and eventually had to medically retire. Hopefully Jones has a better prognosis but how can you not factor that into a decision on his fifth-year option? This is big business.
2:54
But in the short term, I'm more interested in how Andrus Peat holds up at LT. Calvin Anderson was the guy last week when Jones went down in-game, and yet the Steelers are pivoting to Peat. Perhaps they like that he has a little more size (6-7) to deal with Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau (6-7).
2:57
Darius Slay is INACTIVE today. The others are Will Howard, Scotty Miller, Derrick Harmon and Logan Lee.
JPinPDX
2:59
How much better do TJ and the gang need to fare against the Bills back
up OTs than Rousseau and Bosa to make this a Steelers win?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:01
Good afternoon, it's windy and cold. What you would expect for a Bills-Steelers matchup on the final day of November.
Brian Batko
3:04
One percent better! No, but in all seriousness, one aspect of it I think is intriguing is you probably want to help out Andrus Peat with an extra blocker/chips on that side against Rousseau, who had a sack and two pressures against them in the playoff game last time these two teams met. That'll mean Troy Fautanu on an island with Joey Bosa quite a bit. Bosa has just 4 sacks but also had 2.5 negated by penalties this year.
JPinPDX
3:04
Bats, looking ahead to next year’s draft, is there a scenario that you could foresee where the Steelers do anything other than draft a QB with their first round pick?
Brian Batko
3:05
I wouldn't be shocked if they went a different direction, but my money's still on QB. Wouldn't taking another DL or OL or even a CB in the 15-25 range when the draft is being held in Pittsburgh for the first time ever just be so ... what's the word ... boring?
JPinPDX
3:16
Myles Garrett just added a sack to get to 19 on the year. Where will he finish as the new single season record holder?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:17
At this point getting the record seems like it's only a formality. 25?
3:18
Chris Boswell short from 67 just now in pregame warmups. The wind is going to be a factor today.
JPinPDX
3:20
Hey Ray! In your opinion, does 95’s success in any way motivate TJ?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:21
I think there is a healthy competition between them, but I think Garrett is fixated on Watt and what he does way more than the other way around.
Magnum Malone
3:22
I remain skeptical even with a win. The steam is quite uneven.
Ray Fittipaldo
3:24
I look at it this way. Almost all of us picked them to be 9-8 or 10-7. If they're 8-9 is it really that much of a disappointment? And the way the AFC North is it's just one of those years where someone is going to sneak in.
JPinPDX
3:24
Do you expect Rodgers to finish the game today? His ability to protect himself with a backup LT concerns me.
Ray Fittipaldo
3:25
Peat is an experienced veteran. I think that's why they went with him over Calvin Anderson. Whether Jones was healthy or not, I think the game plan with Rodgers nursing a wrist injury was always going to be a quick passing game. I'd be surprised if you see him hanging in the pocket trying to extend plays today.
Brian Batko
3:28
Experienced veteran yes but Peat hasn't really played LT since 2023 with the Saints. Raiders had him mostly at LG last season, and he didn't play much at all. Asked a friend of mine who covers the Saints how Peat fared there, considering they didn't bring him back, and he said he was "fine." Sounds like a Steeler to me.
JPinPDX
3:34
Thanks fellas. What will win this game today? The Stillers run game or their passing?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:35
If they win it will be because of the running game.
Brian Batko
3:36
Aaron Rodgers out here now taking snaps with his left wrist casted. I didn't see him take any under center. Also think he just jokingly jabbed at Zach Frazier with that hand. Still has his humor amid the injury.
Ray Fittipaldo
3:37
His QB is injured. The Bills give up 150 on the ground per game. If he isn't, Tomlin should step in.
JPinPDX
3:38
Ray, do you see our OC staying committed to that idea?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:38
Question to previous answer
JPinPDX
3:42
How much will Derrick Harmon be missed today?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:43
The Bills like to run the ball with Cook so Harmon's presence will be missed there. Yahya Black is ready to take on more snaps I think, and then we'll see a combination of guys like Otomewo and Martin-Rhodes in there. In sub-packages, they've been playing a lot of three OLBs so I don't think he'll be missed as much there.
rman
3:44
What is a stinger?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:44
A pinched nerve in the neck area.
Magnum Malone
3:46
Is it a given the DC will be gone no matter the season results?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:47
Still six games to go, but the defense has mostly underachieved this season. They have a chance to write their own story though over the final six weeks of the season starting today against a very good Bills offense.
Ron
3:48
So black is definitely starting on defense
Ray Fittipaldo
3:49
If they start in base yes I'd be surprised if he's not in there.
JPinPDX
3:49
Your colleague Chris Carter has written a lot lately about the shifting coverage philosophy by the Steelers D. What do you expect to see today against Josh Allen and his patchwork group of receivers?
Ray Fittipaldo
3:49
Hopefully tighter coverage than last week ha ha
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