Built in Buffalo Roundtable: Week 5, Bills vs Steelers

Built In Buffalo writers and contributors weigh in on the Bills Week 5 game against the Steelers

Built In Buffalo content writers have collaborated to share their predictions for the Bills Week 5 game at home vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. We hope you enjoy reading our predictions. Let us know your prediction for today’s game!

Kam Towle: I think the Bills win big on Sunday for a couple of reasons. For one, the Bills remember last year’s home-opening loss to the Steelers, and secondly, the Bills are just a much better team right now.

Following the disappointing loss to Pittsburgh last year to begin the season, the Bills rattled off four straight wins in which they beat their opponents by an average of 28.75. To say they were upset after that loss would be an understatement. This time around, I don’t think they’ll let the Steelers hang around. Although banged up safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will suit up for the Steelers, they are still without DE TJ Watt, who almost single-handedly ruined the Bills’ gameplan last year. They also have rookie QB Kenny Pickett making his first-career start against the Bills No. 1 ranked pass defense while the Steelers currently have the 28th-best passing offense and 31st-ranked offense overall. Even though the Bills are dealing with injuries, especially on defense, I expect them to limit Pittsburgh’s offense and come up with some turnovers. I think someone like Terrel Bernard, Kaiir Elam, or Damar Hamlin come away from this game with their first career interception. The Bills are favored by 14 points in this one, and I think they should at least get up to around that number. Prediction: Bills 31, Steelers 10.

Matt Homan: When the Steelers come into Buffalo this Sunday, they’ll be up against a lot. Not only are the Bills looking for revenge against Pittsburgh, who came in and beat the Bills week 1 last year, they’ll also have a quarterback who’ll be starting his first game on the road against the league’s best passing defense (Bills allowing just 150.8 passing yards per game). Can Kenny Pickett lead a Steelers offense that ranks 28th in the NFL in total yardage and 23rd in total points to victory over the best team in the league?

The Steelers 2022 defense isn’t anywhere close to the Steeler’s defense of old, ranking in the bottom half of most defensive categories. This may not hold up too well against a top-5 NFL offense on the road. Bills roll. Prediction: Bills 34, Steelers 13.

Ben Morningstar: Buffalo comes back home this Sunday to take on Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Buffalo and Sean McDermott have fared pretty well against young rookie QBs and I expect that to continue this week as well.
They’re back home in what should be normal weather conditions, and while they’re going to be without Poyer, Crowder, Kumerow, Knox and maybe McKenzie, it’s going to be a crucial game to win before visiting Kansas City next weekend.
I think Buffalo gets it done at home and gives Kenny all that he can handle. Buffalo’s defense has been terrific this year and they’re going to fluster the young QB all game long.
Without TJ Watt on that defense, it’s not nearly as effective at stopping the pass. I think Allen and the offense get rolling again and I see them winning this game fairly easily. Prediction: Bills 33, Steelers 13.

Daniel Adams: The Bills are two-touchdown favorites over the Steelers today. The Steelers are starting Kenny Pickett at quarterback and that most likely won’t be the best decision as the Bills defense has played very well against opposing rookie quarterbacks in the Sean McDermott era (8-3 vs rookie QBs since 2017). The Bills will be without a couple players on both sides of the ball but so will the Steelers. I believe the Bills will get back into a groove like they were in the first two games of the year and be able to score at will against a banged up Steelers defense. The Bills will get Gabe Davis back into the swing of things after playing through an ankle injury which looked to be holding him back. The Bills defense will hold back the Steelers offense allowing few touchdowns and forcing turnovers. The Bills will beat the Steelers and earn a big boost of confidence moving forward on the season. Prediction: Bills 31, Steelers 20.