Instant analysis: Bills make easy work of Steelers in Week 5 victory
The Buffalo Bills apparently had enough of close games, playing in contest that were decided by less than a field goal over the previous two weeks.
Buffalo (4-1) made easy work of the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4) going into halftime with a four-touchdown lead and ending the game with 38-3 victory.
The game started in an inauspicious manner for the Bills, as their first drive started on their two-yard line following a fumble on the opening kickoff by Taiwan Jones. Instead of this being a harbinger of bad news, it ended up leading to a play that tied the longest play in Bills history.
On third and ten, Josh Allen hooked up with Gabriel Davis on a 98-yard touchdown reception:
98 YARDS! 🤯
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/P3rA4gbxYl
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 9, 2022
The Bills offense was stellar in the first half, connecting on seven big plays of 20 yards or greater. Khalil Shakir, Quintin Morris, Isaiah Hodgins, and Devin Singletary also added big plays in the first half.
Allen threw four touchdown passes in the half, connecting twice with Davis, while Stefon Diggs and Shakir added scores. Davis’s second touchdown reception might have been the play of the year, somehow outdoing his initial touchdown with this stellar one-handed grab:
GABRIEL DAVIS CANNOT BE STOPPED!
(via @BuffaloBills)pic.twitter.com/iVWo4mp5qh
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 9, 2022
Allen put up stats reserved for Madden, throwing for 324 passing yards and the aforementioned four touchdown passes in the first half alone. Davis went into the break in high style as well, with 160 receiving yards on two touchdown receptions.
Allen finished with a career-best 424 passing yards. It was a good day for the MVP candidate.
The Bills defense kept Kenny Pickett in check all game. The rookie had brief flashes showing why he was a first-round pick in April’s draft for the Steelers.
However, Pickett was overwhelmed by Buffalo’s defense. Even without Tremaine Edmunds, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, and Tre’Davious White, Buffalo’s defense dominated the rookie. Buffalo rushed to the ball consistently reducing any shot of a run after catch to basically nothing.
The Bills continued to get pressure with their front four, leaving little room in the secondary for Pickett to find any holes in zones. Pickett, for his part, did stand in and face the pressure fairly well for his debut.
Tyrel Dodson did well in place of Edmunds, recording 11 tackles on the game. Von Miller and Dodson recorded sacks during the game as well. Kaiir Elam, while having struggles during the game, did record his first NFL interception.
The second half was largely a snoozefest, as both teams played a conservative half of football. Buffalo relied on the big play in the first half, and they just rode out the time in the second half. James Cook added the first touchdown by a Bills running back this season to the scoring ledger, scurrying for a 24-yard rush to put the Bills up by 35 in the fourth quarter.
The Bills did add some excitement prior to a mini-scuffle that occurred late in the third quarter. Damar Hamlin put a hit on his former college teammate Pickett as the quarterback slid after a scramble. While the hit was deemed legal, a pair of Steelers earned personal fouls for late hits while defending their quarterback.
While the game was in hand by halftime for Buffalo, it’s important to examine the few struggles that the Bills had in the game. Jones’s fumble was the first worrisome moment. Elam had some struggles in coverage.
Tyler Bass had a kick blocked, and it didn’t even look like it had a shot coming off his foot. Buffalo’s play calling got a little cute, as a shovel pass to Quintin Morris ended up with a turnover, as Morris fumbled into the end zone, which was recovered by the Steelers.
This game showed that if the Bills offense is firing on all cylinders, it will be nearly impossible for opponents to contain them. The old guard will say that this team looks like the Super Bowl teams of the 90s. In fact, this rendition of the Bills might be even better.
Buffalo travels to Kansas City next Sunday for a possible preview of the AFC title game. The Chiefs entered Week 5 atop the AFC West standings.
