WGR

‘The Bills scored only one touchdown, despite four trips into the Steelers’ red zone.’

‘Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett will be making his first-career NFL start. The Bills defense needs to make it as challenging for him as it seems it should be in their stadium. Since 2017, the year Bills head coach Sean McDermott took over and Leslie Frazier became the team’s defensive coordinator, they have faced a rookie quarterback eleven times, including the regular season and playoffs. In those match-ups, the rookie signal-callers have recorded a 59.5 passer rating, throwing seven touchdowns and seventeen interceptions. A good start for the defense, whether getting to Pickett early with pressure or getting him to turn the ball over, will go a long way in continuing this success.’

‘During his weekly appearance on the “Extra Point Show” on Friday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that safety Jordan Poyer and tight end Dawson Knox were going to miss out on Buffalo’s Week 5 matchup with the Steelers. Poyer is dealing with a rib injury suffered on the last defensive play of Sunday’s game in Baltimore, while Dawson Knox is out with foot and hamstring injuries.’

‘Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (hamstring), safety Jordan Poyer (ribs), and tight end Dawson Knox (foot/hamstring) were all on the field watching, but not taking part during the media-open portion of practice.’

‘For the Bills, seven players did not practice on Wednesday with injury-related issues. This includes middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who is dealing with a hamstring, as well as safety Jordan Poyer, who injured his ribs in Sunday’s 23-20 come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Ravens.’

‘When speaking with the media on Monday after Buffalo’s 23-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott did not say if they will elect to do that this week with White. He says that White “continues to improve” and “we’ll get him back out there when he’s ready.”‘

‘Crowder suffered a broken ankle during Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, as confirmed by head coach Sean McDermott. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Crowder is expected to undergo additional tests, but the timetable for his absence is indefinite.’

‘The first half woes continued for Buffalo, as the team suffered another three-and-out, thanks to a pair of drops on Allen passes. However, the Bills defense was up to the task, and got the ball back for a two-minute drill.’

‘The Bills took several body blows that may have put a lesser champion on the canvas early in Sunday’s football game against the Baltimore Ravens. They looked flat, they looked ill-prepared, and worse off, they looked out of their league through 30 minutes of football.’

‘The defense was truly a group effort but I do want to single out the play of linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds. Both players had outstanding performances and the pair combined for 22 tackles, four for loss and a quarterback hit. Both guys made some big time tackles on the incredibly elusive Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and kept him from making bigger plays with his legs. Edmunds, by the way, has consistently been producing splash plays through the first four games.’

‘There has been no more effective drive killer like handing the football off to Zack Moss this season. Yet again, that remains the case, same with the fact that the Bills cannot put together a competent running game without Allen forcing his will upon opposing defenses.’

‘Baltimore had only four possessions after halftime. Those ended with two punts and two interceptions, both by Jordan Poyer.’

‘The Bills have their hands full, and will have to be very disciplined in how they approach Jackson both as a runner and passer. It will start upfront with the defensive line making sure he does not break loose, and then the back-end understanding he’s going to want to go deep.’

‘“The speed element is different when you’re talking about a player like Lamar… it’s hard to simulate but you do the best you can with everything,” McDermott said.’

‘But while Dawkins returned to the field, wide receiver Gabe Davis was present, but did not participate. Davis has been dealing with an ankle injury that saw him miss Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, and force him to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday.’