Buffalo Bills (2) – Pittsburgh Steelers (7): 31-17
Postponed from Sunday to Monday, the last wild card game in the AFC offered a strange match, but overall dominated by Buffalo and Josh Allen (21.30, 203 yards, 74 yards rushing, 4 TDs). The Bills were superior, but after a display in the first half they let the Steelers come back. Taking advantage of this breathing space (or this complacency) from Buffalo, Pittsburgh fought until the last second, without success.
The key moment: Khalil Shakir's touchdown
While the Steelers are back to 7 points, and the Bills are suffering, it is a touchdown full of will that will give the victory to the Bills. Caught by the defender, Khalil Shakir (31 yards, 1 TD) will find the resources to escape and transform a small gain into a touchdown. Checkmate
Can't get over this one.
📺: #PITvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rnjmj1Pg4j pic.twitter.com/DXQCnsLXWl— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
Game film: Buffalo in control
From the start of the match, the Bills left no room for doubt. From the first offensive drive, Josh Allen found Dawson Knox for the first touchdown of the match (7-0). A few minutes later, it was the other tight end Dalton Kincaid (59 yards, 1 TD) who doubled the lead after a fumble by George Pickens (14-0).
While Pittsburgh can come back to score, an interception by Kaiir Elam on Mason Rudolph ((22/39, 22ç yards, 2 TD, 1 Int) and a Josh Allen touchdown on the ground bury the hopes of the men of Pennsylvania (21-0). Yet with their backs against the wall, the Steelers have the honor of not giving up.
After a blocked punt, it was Diontae Johnson (48 yards, 1 TD) who scored the touchdown for hope (21-7). Returning from the locker room, the Steelers added 3 points but the gap still seemed enormous. Buffalo slows down, and in the third quarter is satisfied with the bare minimum with a field goal to keep the gap at 14 points (24-10).
The Steelers do not let themselves be defeated, and a touchdown from Calvin Austin maintains hope. It was then that Buffalo accelerated to make the difference, through Khalil Shakir (see “the key moment” above) (31-17).
The Steelers did not recover, and failed on fourth attempt. Buffalo then runs down the clock to logically win this game.
The MVP: Josh Allen (QB, Bills)
Josh Allen was imperial in this match, making no mistakes and carrying his attack. Author of four touchdowns, he was the driving force of this squad, using his arms and legs to make the difference. This version of Josh Allen is a danger for all teams in the NFL, as he seems untouchable when he avoids turnovers.
The flop: George Pickens (WR, Steelers)
Author of a fumble in the first quarter, George Pickens (50 yards, 5 receptions on 11 throws) did not have the expected impact for the Steelers. A true offensive barometer of this team, he did not weigh in on this match and was muzzled by the incisive and aggressive Bills (in the good sense of the word).
The stat: 179 rushing yards for Buffalo versus 106 for Pittsburgh
If the Bills unsurprisingly dominated the aerial game, it was Buffalo's ground game that surprised. Led by Josh Allen and James Cook, the Bills dominated a sector that was rather the specialty of the Steelers. With 11 first attempts obtained on the ground (compared to 5 for Pittsburgh), Buffalo dictated the pace and controlled the clock. There is no area in which the Steelers have been superior.
And now ?
Buffalo is in the divisional, and will have the opportunity to play a rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs. Cruelly beaten two seasons ago, Josh Allen and his men have the opportunity to qualify for the conference final. To do this, it will be necessary to recover well physically since the Bills will have 48 hours less recovery time than their counterpart. It will also be necessary to replace Terrel Bernard, out with an injury and probably absent next week.
For the Steelers, the season is satisfying from an accounting standpoint, but the franchise will probably have to start looking for a quarterback again next spring. Not progressing, not regressing, Pittsburgh remains stuck in the middle.
