Steelers vs. Bills, Week 15: How the Bills offense will try and move the ball on the Steelers defense

The Pittsburgh Steelers are gearing up for the Buffalo Bills in Week 15 of the 2019 regular season. Entering the game with an 8-5 record, the Steelers prepare to host the Bills at Heinz Field for the huge AFC grudge match.

While this could be a familiar matchup for some of the Steelers, there are some new faces many fans want to know more about. Sure, there are the big name players in the matchup, but what about all those other players who can make a difference?

So, I wanted to get a lowdown on what the Bills might have in store for the Steelers by talking with Buffalo Rumbling’s, SB Nation’s Bills website, writer Corey Giacovelli to pick his brain on the upcoming matchup.

In this second of many installments, I asked Corey what he thinks the Bills defense will do when the Steelers have the ball. Check out his response:

When the Bills have the ball expect them to spread our the formation with Josh Allen in shotgun and Devin Singletary next to him. Out wide you will usually see the combination of John Brown on the outside with Cole Beasley in the slot with tight end Dawson Knox and a third receiver on the opposite side. The team will sometimes move Singletary in motion for an empty backfield to try and diagnose what the defense is playing to see if it is zone or man.

If the Bills follow this theory and try to spread out the Steelers’ defense, they will have to rely on something Josh Allen isn’t particularly good at — getting the ball out of his hands quickly.

Otherwise, putting 3+ receivers on the field will limit blockers in place to help keep the NFL’s top sacking unit off Allen. Allen, who was sacked six times in Week 14 by the Baltimore Ravens, holds onto the ball longer than any other NFL quarterback, so a spread offense dictated on getting the ball out quickly might not be the best course of action for success aginast the Steelers’ defense.

What could lead to success for the Bills is leaning on Frank Gore and Devin Singletary. Establishing a ground game, although difficult, is the key to success vs. the Pittsburgh defense. If you can run the football you will open up play action and also keep the down and distance in a manageable range for the offense.

Ultimately, going against the Steelers defense isn’t an easy task. They stop the run well, get after the quarterback and lead the league in takeaways. Moving the ball won’t be easy. If you like offensive football, you might want to look away during this Week 15 matchup.

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to keep tabs on BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bills in Week 15.