Steelers "Have Nothing To Lose" Said NFL Insider, Could Surprise Buffalo Bills

Against all odds, the Pittsburgh Steelers have found a way to stumble into the playoffs. A few weeks ago, after back-to-back losses to two different 2-10 teams, everyone had pretty much written them off for dead. The sky was truly falling in Pittsburgh, with all the Chicken Little's screaming for Head Coach Mike Tomlin to be fired and for second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett to be immediately traded. While the critics aren't silent, they have piped down a bit, perhaps helped by the fact that Pickett hasn't seen the field since Week 13 when he was injured. Now the national media is making bold predictions for the Steelers' Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills. 

The Steelers started second-string Mitch Trubisky in place of the injured Pickett. After a terrible performance by Trubisky and the majority of the team, they quickly lost three games in a row. That led to Tomlin benching Trubisky and starting third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph. Rudolph did something that hadn't been done all season, helped the offense score 30 or more points.  

The remarkable turnaround by Rudolph seemed to spark life into a team that couldn't seem to do anything right most of the season. This was made all the more remarkable by the fact that this team, particularly on defense, has been so battered and beaten. They have literally pulled men off their couches and brought them in to play. But they have heart and they are suddenly hungry. Pittsburgh was able to do enough to give themselves a chance to make the postseason and the Tennessee Titans did the rest, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, which helped the Steelers clinch a playoff berth in Week 18. Many analysts are not giving this rag-tag Steelers team much of a chance against the Bills, but one is.   

Steelers Could Wreck The Bills' Plans According To One Analyst

Former NFL quarterback and current NFL analyst Chris Simms said don't count Pittsburgh out on his podcast, Chris Simms Unbuttoned. While the Steelers might be 9.5-point underdogs at the beginning of the week, Simms thinks they have a real shot at stopping Josh Allen and his high-powered wide receiver Stefon Diggs, but maybe not much more than that. 

"They don't have a chance, I don't think, to go real deep. I do think they can win one game at the Bills. I do. I mean, Buffalo's offense, 20, 21 points. That's kind of what they are right now. I don't think they're gonna move the ball up and down the field on this Pittsburgh defense and Pittsburgh's one of those teams that's gonna go, they got nothing to lose. They're gonna take some chances on defense," predicted Simms.

The Steelers have been playing like they have nothing to lose since Rudolph took over under center. All of this doubt seems to only fuel the team. As for Rudolph, no one has really believed in him in years and suddenly he is finding success. This might be the difference for Rudolph between having a job in the NFL in 2024 or not. 

Part of what has made Rudolph so successful is the way he has been able to spread the ball all over the field. He has gotten the once-frustrated George Pickens more involved and has helped rejuvenate a struggling run game. 

One of the reasons that no one believes the Steelers can beat the Bills is that star edge rusher T.J. Watt will miss the game with an injury. We saw during the start of the 2022 season, how hard it is for Pittsburgh to win without Watt. But the rookie, Nick Herbig, has shown that he is eager and ready to help teammate Alex Highsmith lock things down. 

Simms did say that despite thinking the Steelers have a chance to upset the Bills, he is still picking Buffalo to win. He thinks that the biggest factor for Buffalo will be how Allen plays. 

"I'm taking the Bills to win that game. I can just tell you that right now. But that would be one that I'd look at and go, 'Eh, that could be a little scary.' [If] Josh Allen does some of the things he did (against the Miami Dolphins) next week, they might be going home after that football game."

However, Simms is right to not count the Steelers out. There are a number of factors that work in Pittsburgh's favor. The current forecast shows snow expected in upstate New York, which will limit some of Allen's passing game and help the dinged-up Steelers secondary. In addition, Allen is second in the league for turnovers this season with 22. Hopefully, the Steelers' defense can bring enough pressure to push Allen to throw some of those questionable balls. 

The Bills have struggled against the run this season and that is where Pittsburgh is finding the majority of their success. Pittsburgh has been averaging 118.2 yards per game on the ground. With the successful running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, and the improved offensive line play, the Steelers will hopefully be able to find some seams in the Bills' defense. 

So while Simms said he is ultimately picking the Bills to win, all I can think is, "So you're telling me there's a chance?"

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