‘Buffalo also has several veterans with contracts that expire following the 2024 season, some of whom may be salary cap casualties for a roster that currently projects to be more than $40 million over the cap next season, according to Spotrac.com.’
BillsBeat - January 12, 2024
Tides turn for the Bills
‘Winning one game in the playoffs will be great. Winning two will be better. Yet, if we win three, we must also win four.’
Friday's Pittsburgh Coverage
Steelers-Bills weather forecast: Windy, snowy for NFL wild card game (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
How patience, perseverance and a pastor propelled the Steelers’ Mason Rudolph on a magical late-season journey (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
‘Here We Go’ Steelers fight song gets 2024 refresh from artist Roger Wood (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Tim Benz: Words matter when discussing the ‘Mason-Andre Rudolph’ story (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
‘No way anybody can play in a game like this’ – Steelers-Bills has potential for whiteout blizzard (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Allowing plenty of TDs to TEs recently, Steelers defense preps for Bills’ Dalton Kincaid (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Bills share Steelers’ affinity for running the ball as teams prep for wild-card matchup (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Elandon Roberts, Isaac Seumalo, Najee Harris full participants at Steelers practice (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Mason Rudolph jerseys elusive for Steelers fans (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Mark Madden: Mike Tomlin continues to disrespect Steelers savior Mason Rudolph (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Minkah Fitzpatrick says he will return for Steelers in playoff matchup with Bills (Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
Cecil Township restaurant bans buffalo sauce ahead of Steelers-Bills matchup (Uniontown Herald Standard)
Mason Rudolph’s unlikely renaissance has led the backup QB and the Steelers to Buffalo (AP)
Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu names key to Steelers’ resiliency en route to playoff berth (Fox News)
Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick set to return for game vs. Bills (ESPN)
Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick says he’ll return from knee injury to face Bills on Super Wild Card Weekend (CBS Sports)
How Steelers’ Mason Rudolph completely turned around the offense, helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs (CBS Sports)
Meteorologists watching potential for lake effect snow during Steelers-Bills playoff game (KDKA-TV)
City of Pittsburgh announces pep rally ahead of Steelers vs. Bills AFC Wild Card matchup (KDKA-TV)
“I will be happy to see Pittsburgh fans:” Despite Pittsburgh roots, one native trades Steelers for Bills (KDKA-TV)
Primanti Bros. ready to host Steelers fans: ‘Playoff football is another thing’ (KDKA-TV)
Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick “110%,” will play vs Bills (WPXI-TV)
Bill Belichick out, Mike Tomlin earns new NFL title (WPXI-TV)
Steelers pep rally being held in Downtown Pittsburgh Friday ahead of playoff game against Bills (WPXI-TV)
Steelers won’t play international game in 2024 (WPXI-TV)
Steelers pep rally set for Friday ahead of playoff game vs. Buffalo (WTAE-TV)
Steelers donate $490,000 to community organizations for social and economic justice (WTAE-TV)
‘Let’s Go Baby’ the message to those filling in for TJ (KDKA-FM)
Fitzpatrick says he will play Sunday (KDKA-FM)
Good news from Steelers injury report, what Bills looks like (KDKA-FM)
Mike Tomlin now longest tenured coach in NFL, but for how long? (KDKA-FM)
‘You sign up for that’ (Steelers.com)
Full steam ahead for Steelers offense (Steelers.com)
Wild Card Injury Report (Bills) (Steelers.com)
5 for Friday: Rowe, Jack proving their worth (Steelers.com)
Could NFL move Steelers-Bills wild-card game from Buffalo to Cleveland due to snow?
‘“We are monitoring conditions as we do for every game, but there have been no discussions about making a change to the game’s status,” Brian McCarthy, the NFL’s vice president of communications, told the station.’
Weather forecast for Bills-Steelers playoff game features near-record wind, inches of snow
‘That would be some of the highest winds ever recorded in an NFL game. The 1982 AFC championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers featured subzero temperatures and wind gusts past 50 mph as well. More recently, the Bills lost 14-10 to the Patriots in December 2021 in a Monday Night Football game featuring winds gusting up to 55 mph.’
Bills and Steelers, both counted out a month ago, to meet in playoffs after late-season rallies
‘“Four more” is what Diggs whispered into quarterback Josh Allen’s ear on Sunday, after the Bills capped an unlikely run by beating Miami. And Diggs believes winning four more games — which would include the Super Bowl — is achievable for a team he considers battle-tested entering the playoffs.’
Bills host Steelers in AFC wild-card matchup of surging teams
‘Key Matchup: The Bills defensive front vs. Steelers RB tandem of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. In closing the season by winning five straight, Buffalo is allowing an average of 96 yards rushing, but has given up six TDs rushing. Harris has heated up in combining for 312 yards rushing and four scores in his past three, with Warren contributing 132 yards rushing and a score over the same span.’
Bills found new reputation for clutch play during win streak
‘”Seems like this year, every game comes down to the last two minutes. Offense has the ball. We have the ball and this is the results,” safety Micah Hyde said after the loss. “We could have nine, 10 wins right now, but that’s in fantasy land, and in real life, we understand what our record is.”‘
How the Bills' late-season surge compares to previous Buffalo teams that entered playoffs on hot streak
‘Vastly better defensive play down the stretch has been one of the main reasons for Buffalo’s most recent late-season surge. It started with with the Bills’ Week 14 win in Kansas City that saw Buffalo’s defense hold Patrick Mahomes and Co. to just 17 points. The Bills then held the Cowboys to just 10 points the next week and allowed an average of just 19 points per game during the season’s last three games.’
Steelers-Bills weather update: Snow showers, gusty winds on tap for Super Wild Card Weekend game in Buffalo
‘How each team adjusts to the weather will ultimately help determine who wins this game. The Steelers’ last game in conditions similar to the one they will face on Sunday occurred on Dec. 24, 2022, when the Steelers recorded a 13-10 win over the Raiders. Pittsburgh prevailed on a night where the game temperature was 9 degrees with 21-mph wind.’
Several Bills players miss practice Thursday with injuries, illness
‘Wide receiver Gabe Davis, cornerback Rasul Douglas, safety Taylor Rapp, and linebacker Tyrel Dodson all sat out for a second-straight day due to injury.’
Sam Martin named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month
‘In the final five weeks of the 2023 season, Martin led the AFC in percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line (64.75%), 10-yard line (29.4%) and five-yard line (11.8%).’
M&T Bank hosts Bills 'Play-ay-ay-off Rally' at Seneca One downtown
‘A large number of Bills fans gathered to celebrate the Bills’ fifth-straight playoff appearance, and cheer them on as they get ready to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.’
Weather still a wild card ahead of Sunday's Bills-Steelers playoff matchup
‘”Here’s what we know,” said Parker during an appearance on WBEN on Thursday. “We know temperatures are going to be in the 20s, and it’s going to be a very windy day with wind chills near zero. That’s locked in. We also know there will be a lake effect plume off Lake Erie. The next question is, where?”‘
Papi Grande's in Amherst banning Pittsburgh Tacos until after Sunday's Bills-Steelers playoff game
‘”We’re pulling our Pittsburgh Taco off the menu this week out of love and support for our Buffalo Bills,” said Jimmy Spano, owner of Papi Grande’s. “We’re putting on a ‘Bills Mafia’ taco, and we’re just trying to support the team and give them any kind of support we can, as we lead them to victory this week, and hopefully all the way to the Super Bowl.”‘