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Steelers vs Bills: 5 players who must step up this week

No one is giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a shot this weekend against the Buffalo Bills. The weather is going to be miserable and could end up the great equalizer between a team with one of the top quarterbacks in the league and a former third-stringer pushed into the starting lineup.

Putting aside the quarterbacks, here are the five players for the Steelers who must step up this week.

EDGE Markus Golden

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Markus Golden (44) takes the field before playing the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/jacksonville/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Jacksonville Jaguars;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Jacksonville Jaguars</a> at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

We expect the veteran Markus Golden to see the bulk of the snaps in place of T.J. Watt this week. Josh Allen is an athletic guy and so it’s all about keeping him in the pocket and not letting him break contain. Golden has the experience to understand assignment football.

CB Joey Porter Jr.

Dec 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter, Jr. (24) hauls in a practice ball before playing the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/cincinnati/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Cincinnati Bengals;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Cincinnati Bengals</a> at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

The passing game for both teams will be limited due to the weather but if Allen has a chance to get the football to Stephon Diggs he will do it. Joey Porter Jr. should be following Diggs everywhere on Sunday trying to keep him off balance.

C Mason Cole

Dec 7, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Mason Cole (61) blocks for quarterback <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/30115" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Mitch Trubisky;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Mitch Trubisky</a> (10) against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/new-england/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:New England Patriots;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">New England Patriots</a> during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

The weak link of the offensive line is Mason Cole and with so much pressure on the run game this week, that means there is even more pressure on Cole to control the middle of the line of scrimmage and make good snaps in bad conditions.

LB Myles Jack

Dec 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack (16) takes the field against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh won 34-11. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack (16) takes the field against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. Pittsburgh won 34-11. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

We love how hard Elandon Roberts is playing with an injury but with how much the Bills are going to run the football, we are banking on Myles Jack being the spy who keeps a close eye on Allen.

TE Pat Freiermuth

Dec 3, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) runs after a catch against the <a class="link " href="https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/arizona/" data-i13n="sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link" data-ylk="slk:Arizona Cardinals;sec:content-canvas;subsec:anchor_text;elm:context_link;itc:0">Arizona Cardinals</a> during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Throwing the football is going to be more than a challenge in frigid temperatures, snow and swirling winds so the deep passing game isn’t going to be there. But this could open up chances for Pat Freiermuth on a day when Mason Rudolph is going to need a safety valve in the passing game.

Story originally appeared on Steelers Wire