All anyone wanted to see was how the Steelers would be different this year but in the end, it was what hadn’t changed that mattered the most. The Steelers offense is still very much a work in progress but thanks to a near-perfect performance from the Steelers defense, they are 1-0 after a 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Offensively, the Steelers were able to manufacture drives, mostly ending in one of Chris Boswell’s three field goals. But they did give everyone a taste of what this offense is capable of once the offensive line jells and can be more consistent. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 188 yards and one touchdown while rookie running back Najee Harris finished with 45 yards rushing on 16 carries.
The story was on defense and special teams. Every time it looked like the Bills were getting some momentum moving the football, someone stepped up to make a play. Linebacker T.J. Watt had two sacks and a forced fumble and defensive tackle Cam Heyward had a sack and two passes batted down.
One of Pittsburgh’s two touchdowns came when backup defensive Miles Killebrew blocked a Buffalo punt with linebacker Ulysees Gilbert scooping it up for the score. Gilbert also saved a touchdown on the opening kickoff with a huge special-teams tackle.
