Immediately in Week 1, we are greeted with a possible AFC Championship preview. The Steelers make the short trip to Orchard Park, New York for this contest against the Bills. It’s time to continue our NFL odds series and make a Steelers-Bills prediction and pick.
While the Steelers might be wrapping up their decade plus long run of excellence, the Bills run of dominance in the AFC is just getting started. The team lost lost season to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, but should be right back in that championship game this season. After so many years of frustration in Buffalo, Bills Mafia can now proudly say the Bills are one of football's best teams. The Steelers should not be overlooked either with Big Ben still at quarterback, but the 6 1/2 point spread here tells you all you need to know about the gap between these two organizations.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the lines for Sunday's matchup.
NFL Odds: Steelers-Bills Odds
Pittsburgh Steelers +6 1/2 (-108)
Buffalo Bills -6 1/2 (-112)
Over 48 points (-115)
Under 48 points (-105)
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Why The Steelers Could Cover
With Ben Roethlisberger approaching the end of his career, many might think the Steelers are done. But Ben remains a clutch NFL quarterback and is far from hanging up the laces. With a receiving corps of Dionte Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool, this might be the best three-man receiving group in all of football. Plus, Eric Ebron at tight end and rookie running back Najee Harris making this an extremely dangerous offense for even a supreme defense like Buffalo's. The Steelers offense will face a challenge, but I believe Claypool will score early to give the Steelers the early lead. Pittsburgh's defense, anchored by T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, plays well enough to not allow Josh Allen and the Bills to play to their full potential. The Steelers are getting over a touchdown here on the spread, which is more than enough room for error for Big Ben to keep this within a few point game. But I do think the Bills win this game, but it might not come until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter, perhaps even on a Steelers backdoor cover.
Why The Bills Could Cover
The Bills are for real. Although they fell to Kansas City in the AFC Championship in January, the Bills are out to prove they can be the best team in football this season. The defense, one of the best groups in the league at keeping points off the board, can easily get to Big Ben and force him into a couple of interceptions. Don't forget that Buffalo allowed just three points to the Ravens in last year's playoffs, after Baltimore supposedly had an unstoppable offense. At quarterback, Josh Allen has a good chance to win MVP. The Wyoming product threw for over 4,500 yards in 2020, throwing for 37 touchdowns and rushing in for eight scores as well. Allen threw for two touchdowns against the Steelers last season in a win, and should be able to equal, if not top, that number in Week 1. The Bills also only allowed 15 points to the Steelers when the two teams faced each other in Week 14 last year.
Final Steelers-Bills Prediction & Pick
Josh Allen throws for three touchdowns, the Buffalo defense makes football fans question is Big Ben is done, and the Bills walk all over the Steelers, 30-13. The Bills are my pick to win the Super Bowl this season, bringing the first Super Bowl win to upstate New York. But the Super Bowl is a long time away, so for now, the Bills will settle for a comfortable Week 1 victory.
FINAL PICK: Bills -6 1/2 (-112)
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