Gridiron Report: Bills obliterate Steelers 38-3 in Buffalo in Pickett’s first career start, now 1-4 to start season

Written By Anthony Cugini, Sports Columnist

On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 38-3 in a very lopsided affair.

The Steelers were embarrassed in Buffalo as they were beat by an outstanding 35 points.

The tone of the game was set just a minute in as Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen hit receiver Gabriel Davis for a 98-yard touchdown. The most embarrassing part about the play for Pittsburgh was that it occurred on a third down and ten from the Bills 2-yard line.

After the long touchdown, it was smooth sailing for the Bills. Buffalo was able to throw the ball as they pleased against the Pittsburgh defense as Josh Allen tallied 424 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Pittsburgh secondary looked helpless as Allen torched the Steelers’ defense.

The Steelers’ offense wasn’t much better as they managed only three points. In his first career start quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 34 of 52 passes for 327 yards while also throwing an interception. Through a game and a half, Pickett now has four interceptions and has yet to throw his first career touchdown pass.

On top of that Pittsburgh only managed to run for a measly 54 yards. The offensive line failed to give the running backs any space as they were bullied by the Bills’ defensive line the entire game. 

There wasn’t much the Steelers did right in the game. Pickett once again looked subpar though the situation he was put in was incredibly tough. The rushing attack once again disappointed and the defense looked like they forgot they were supposed to keep the Bills from scoring.

The absence of T.J. Watt is surely being felt by Pittsburgh as they failed to notch a sack against Buffalo. The Steelers are still yet to win a game when T.J. Watt isn’t playing. To add salt into the wound, Watt is expected to miss an additional week or two as he underwent knee surgery.

Despite missing their best player, the Steelers still need to be held accountable for the terrible display they put on Sunday. At the end of the day, they’re the Steelers. They’re a franchise who has always been held in high regard as they’re one of the most storied franchises in the league. Expectations may differ from year to year, but to see them lose like that felt like a punch to the gut.

The Steelers now fall to 1-4 on the season and have lost four straight games. Pittsburgh will hope to bounce back next week, though it will be difficult as they take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are 3-2 after beating the Falcons on Sunday.