Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen understands reality.
Buffalo (7-4) will face a tough test against the host Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) on Sunday afternoon. The matchup carries significant implications for both teams as they attempt to bolster their playoff hopes.
Some players could distract from the importance of the match. Allen is not one of them.
“Extremely high sense of urgency,” Allen said as the Bills sat three behind the Patriots in the AFC East. “We understand where we are. We have full confidence in ourselves, but at the end of the day it’s about executing on game days.”
Buffalo is coming off a 23-19 loss to the Houston Texans in a primetime game Thursday night. It was the fourth loss in the last seven games for the Bills, who still aspire to compete for a championship but first must secure a playoff spot.
Allen tried to do his part. The reigning NFL MVP completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 2,709 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 11 starts, and he posted a passer rating of 101.6.
Dealing with a right elbow injury that placed him on the injury report for the start of the week, Allen was sacked eight times by the Texans. The 29-year-old signal-caller said he and the Bills have plenty of reasons to stay positive.
“We’ve had some good and some bad throughout the year,” Allen said. “I think there’s a lot of teams that would like to be 7-4 at a place we’re at. So it’s also about this opportunity in front of us: Hey, let’s go out, play as hard as we can, do our best and try to get a win on Sunday. That’s ultimately what it comes down to.”
The Steelers will try to spoil Allen’s hopes.
Pittsburgh has alternated wins and losses over the past four weeks. The Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-12 on Nov. 16, but are coming off a 31-28 road loss to the Chicago Bears last week.
Aaron Rodgers will start at quarterback against the Bills, the team confirmed Friday. Rodgers sat out last week with a wrist injury, and Mason Rudolph completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his absence.
“He was a full participant today without any designation for the game,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Friday of Rodgers. “So it’s all systems go.”
Rodgers has led the Steelers to wins in six of his 10 starts this season.
Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers with 604 rushing yards, and DK Metcalf leads the passing game with 573 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 42 catches.
James Cook had 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns for the Bills, and Khalil Shakir caught 54 passes for 564 yards and three scores.
Wideout Brandin Cooks joined the Bills this week as a free agent.
“Bringing in a guy like him, as a veteran of our room, he’s come here and he’s already basically learned our playbook,” Allen said. “The way he carries himself, the way he behaves in meetings, already shows very clearly that he is a true professional.
“We appreciate him coming here and hopefully helping us.”
Buffalo will be without several key starters on Sunday. Left tackle Dion Dawkins (concussion), right tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder), linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow/knee) have been ruled out. Receiver Josh Palmer (ankle) and tight end Dalton Kinkaid (hamstring) are listed as questionable. Offensive lineman Tylan Grable, out with a concussion since August, was activated from injured reserve Saturday.
For Pittsburgh, offensive tackle Broderick Jones (neck) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee) have been ruled out. The Steelers placed Jones, who was injured against the Bears, on injured reserve Saturday, and Andrus Peat is expected to start in his place at left tackle. The team also elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who was signed Nov. 12, from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
–Field level media
