Bills vs. Steelers: Pittsburgh Has Dominated Recent Series
by MattRichWarren on Nov 24, 2010 10:00 AM EST
in Buffalo Bills News
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Last week, we discussed how the Buffalo Bills had won nine (now ten) straight games over the Cincinnati Bengals. The recent series against the Pittsburgh Steelers is almost as lopsided. Unfortunately for Buffalo, it's in the opposite favor, as the Steelers hold a 6-1 regular season and 7-1 overall edge since 1993.
The Bills defeated the Steelers 24-21 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 1999, when Doug Flutie threw three touchdown passes. Flutie also gashed the Steelers defense with 39 of Buffalo's rushing yards, and Eric Moulds caught six balls for 122 yards and one of Flutie's TD passes. Kordell Stewart passed for 216 yards and an interception for the Steelers. Not coincidentally, the 1999 season is the last time the Bills made the playoffs.
Other than that game, Buffalo has been owned by the Steelers defense in this series. Jim Kelly and the 1993 Bills team were shut out 23-0 to begin the streak on Monday Night Football. Almost a year to the date later, the Steelers held the Bills to 10 points in another MNF loss. The Steelers recovered a fumble in the end zone and picked Kelly off twice. The Bills were held to six points or less during the streak on three more occasions.
Bills quarterbacks have especially been woeful. Kelly threw nine interceptions in his four games at the helm during the streak, had a game with only 93 passing yards, and had a completion percentage well below 50%. Rob Johnson was knocked from the game in 2001, and Alex Van Pelt threw a pick in his five pass attempts. Drew Bledsoe's rating in 2004 was a paltry 58.9.
One of the games was in the playoffs, as Buffalo and Pittsburgh met in the divisional round in January of 1996. The Steelers held a 20-0 lead in the second quarter and were up 23-7 at the half. The Bills tried to make a game of it, narrowing the margin to 26-21 early in the fourth quarter, before two Bam Morris touchdowns capped the scoring and gave the Bills their first AFC playoff loss since the 1989 season.
Perhaps the best-remembered game of younger fans in this series is the matchup in Week 17 of the 2004 season. The 9-6 Bills needed a win to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999. The Steelers had sewn up their playoff spot and seed and had nothing to play for. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey coached the Bills that day against Pittsburgh's backups, and still managed to find a way to lose. Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker had his coming out party, going for 102 yards on 19 carries. Despite two touchdowns from Willis McGahee, the Bills fell 29-24 and finished a game behind the Denver Broncos and New York Jets for the two wild card spots.
If the Bills are going to make it three wins in a row, they are going to need to overcome a lot of recent demons. With Pittsburgh's fifth-ranked defense coming to town, it's going to be a difficult hill to climb. Pittsburgh has only allowed 16.5 points per game, giving them the third-best scoring defense in the league.
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Need
D-Line to bring their “A” game. Everybody else too.
Be miserable or motivate yourself. What's to be done it's always YOUR choice.
Hutch-Tech Class of '76 Buffalo born & bred. Bills fan since 1968.
by MtJulietTNBillsFan on Nov 24, 2010 10:08 AM EST reply actions
Pittsburgh will be in a foul mood
The defense will be looking to take it out on an AFC East team after the Pats smacked them around. The Bills and Pats even have the similar color schemes……
It can always get worse. Let me tell you how.
if we are going to win another this year, this is the one I really really want.
So many levels – satisfaction of beating a superbowl contender, the positive notice we’ll start getting for having a no-nonsense, serious football team on its way up.
I am PUMPED for sunday.
Blackout
Does anyone know what the ticket sales / blackout situation is for this game….
We're due!
3 in a row boys… lets do this.
Yes we play all our games at 1 in the afternoon... but Id still like to see "Lights Out!" 8-)
Wake Up Sabres!!! Its officially "Go Time."
Does Brian or someone have Keys to the Game coming up?
If so we should probably set some parameters.
1.) Steelers Bus broke down on I290 about 30 minutes from the field. Tomlin has them doing double time to make kick off.
2.) Harrison’s helmet is ruled illegal for contact sports and will be playing without one.
3.) Troy Palamalu is teaching a make up class on industrial safety first incentives. Last class was this sunday in Pittsburgh, he will not be available.
4.) Shawn Merriman and Aaron Maybin suit up and play opposite sides at OLB, with LaVarre Harrington cheering for them from the sidelines. Big Ben can’t stop laughing all game.
5.) The NFL spots Buffalo 13 points for home field advantage since the Steelers faithful will out number the local loyals and Ryan’s first three picks will be awarded back to the home team by default.
Now Keys to the game:
1.) We need to score more points than we allow on defense.
2.) Only three rushers per snap and after a 3 second count.
3.) Jarius Byrd is allowed to return to 2009 form.
4.) Aaron Schobel is allowed to play one more game for the bills.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
by VanScottM on Nov 24, 2010 10:44 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Boy that 2004 game against their backups was brutal! I remember being absolutely FURIOUS after that one.
But not this year.
PIT: 24
BUF: 31
"Ability without character will lose. The Bills are going to be a team of high character. That stamp I will push very hard. I hope we can convey that to our fans and project something very special to the rest of the nation." - Marv Levy
by BuffaloBlueBlood on Nov 24, 2010 11:22 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Not Mentioned in this post:
Bills going into Pittsburgh the week after the comeback game in ’93 w/ Frank Reick at the thelm and the Bills winning 23-7, advancing to the AFC Title game @ Miami. Which they also won.
Follow Me here: http://twitter.com/Michael_Necci
Yeah we were 7-1 against them in the previous 8 before this recent 1-7 run. All of those wins were by the home team, too.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=buf&tm2=pit&yr=all
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Nov 24, 2010 11:49 AM EST up reply actions
That game felt more dominating than the comeback. It was a great one.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Nov 24, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions
2004
I remember we were riding a 6 game winning streak, and the offense was clicking on all cylinders… let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself this week and we pull out the win.
Should we really be fearful of the almighty perennial playoff team Pittsburgh Steelers?
We are an NFL caliber team. We have lost more than we won, but we have been competitive in almost every game. We are maturing into a solid resilient group. We have made mistakes and beat our selves and we made mistakes and survived. We have yet to play a flawless game which means championships are a long ways down the road but do we really have to be fearful of these guys.
Hasn’t Ryan been popped enough to show he knows what to do? Hasn’t Chan orchastrated plans to compete against any team, with execution being the deciding factor? Hasn’t George Edwards shown signs of in game adjustments that make differences? Hasn’t our O-Line done enough against solid front sevens to provide enough protection to safely get our guys through a 60 and 75 minute war? Hasn’t our efforts against the Dolphins, Pats, Jets(well maybe the jets), Ravens,Cheifs, and Bears been formidable enough to justify less fear and more optimism. We have already played a number of quality teams this season and we have only two wins to show for it but is that enough to be intimidated about the Steelers coming to town. You know I view every game the same way, regardless of opponent. I know our record tells one story but usually the game itself tells another story. I respect the Steelers, and I have for decades because they are one of those teams that annually bring it to every game, but I don’t ever remember them being mentioned in a perfect season conversation. Let them bring their A game to the Ralph this Sunday. What I want from this game is a solid home field showing by the Bills. Something we haven’t seen in awhile. Win or lose and I expect a win this would go a long way in our future development and the team has shown more to expect that than they have in being feared by the almighty Steelers.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
by VanScottM on Nov 24, 2010 11:54 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The road to 8-8 continues on Sunday.
"Ability without character will lose. The Bills are going to be a team of high character. That stamp I will push very hard. I hope we can convey that to our fans and project something very special to the rest of the nation." - Marv Levy
by BuffaloBlueBlood on Nov 24, 2010 12:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I'll never forget those 2 MNF losses.
I recall the Steelers consistently destroying the health of the Bills every time they played.
In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!
Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"
by TheAfghanTwilight on Nov 24, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions
Game
Well if previous games are any indication, this should be entertaining! Please no “blow-out”…GO BILLS!!!
Home Of The Never Ending Rebuild (15years and counting)
If we could put up a game like we did against Baltimore (even if it is a loss) I think it would show this team is legit and heading in the right direction
by Buffalo Stro on Nov 24, 2010 5:50 PM EST up reply actions
Hope
I hope they win, but the chances are slim. like the saying goes “On any given Sunday”. Play your hearts out guys. That’s all we ask for.
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