Former NFL GM Seriously Believes Steelers Will Expose Bills' Josh Allen

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not won a playoff game under Head Coach Mike Tomlin since the 2016 season. For Pittsburgh, the biggest goal remains getting over that hurdle, but making a deep playoff run would be the ultimate achievement. After years of near misses, the franchise is hungry to prove it can compete at the highest level and reclaim its place among the NFL elite. 

With Aaron Rodgers now in the Steel City, there is a noticeably different vibe around town. Fans and analysts alike are buzzing with anticipation, hopeful that his presence can elevate the team and provide the edge needed to finally break through in the postseason. For Pittsburgh, currently ranked as the second-best team in the AFC, the message is clear. It is time to be taken seriously in the Super Bowl hunt. The stakes have never been higher, and expectations have never felt more tangible.

Former NFL General Manager Doug Whaley shared his thoughts on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, noting that he has worked with both the Steelers and the Buffalo Bills. Whaley believes Pittsburgh has the personnel and strategy to expose Josh Allen when the two teams meet. If the Steelers can execute at a high level, Whaley suggested, they could turn their season into a statement run, one that not only finally breaks the playoff curse under Tomlin but also sends a message across the league.

"Right now, l'd say the Steelers," Whaley said on Wednesday while speaking on The Fan Show. "The Buffalo Bills, their defense looks soft. And then that puts so much pressure on Josh Allen that he's starting to press it. I think you saw a little bit of frustration out of him on Monday night. And if he starts getting frustrated, they haven't surrounded him with enough playmakers on offense. You got [James] Cook. So unless they start getting that run heavy on Cook and then open it up for Josh Allen, I think they're gonna get exposed."

The Bills were recently upset on Monday Night Football by the Atlanta Falcons, a game in which Buffalo’s defense looked vulnerable and Allen struggled to find a rhythm. This is exactly why Whaley believes this could be the year Pittsburgh finally gets the upper hand. The Steelers will face Allen and the Bills in Week 13 at Acrisure Stadium, a matchup that gives the football world a real opportunity to see just how dangerous this new-look Steelers team can be.

The Bills always have Super Bowl expectations when Allen is healthy under center. In the 2023 playoffs, Buffalo sent the Steelers home quickly, defeating them 31-17 in a one-sided game with Mason Rudolph starting for the Black and Gold. 

Steelers Are Legit Super Bowl Threats After Week 6

During the 2022 season, the Bills also dominated the Steelers, who were then led by Kenny Pickett, winning 38-3. The Bills have clearly had the upper hand over Pittsburgh in recent years, but Whaley believes that could change this season. When the 2025 season began, many assumed the Bills would easily destroy Pittsburgh, but the narrative is starting to change.

For the Steelers, getting a regular season win over the Bills would be significant, but what makes Whaley’s analysis even more intriguing is his belief that Pittsburgh could compete with Buffalo at a higher level. If the Steelers can beat the Bills, it signals that Whaley sees them as a legitimate postseason threat capable of making a run at the Super Bowl. Whether that actually happens remains to be seen, but for now, Pittsburgh is turning heads.

Do you have confidence that this current Steelers team could take down the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.

#SteelerNation