The Buffalo Bills sit at 9-4 right now, a game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East. They have won three of their last four, beating Miami, Denver and Dallas before losing to Baltimore last week at home, 24-17. Their offense has become more consistent under second-year quarterback Josh Allen, who is gaining in accuracy on balls down the field, and their defense might be the best in the conference. They head to Pittsburgh to take on an 8-5 Steelers team that has won seven of their last eight, turning around a season that looked lost in the early going. They are on their third quarterback of the season, as Devlin Hodges has taken over for backup Mason Rudolph, who was just throwing too many interceptions. Hodges is a capable game manager, letting the running game and the defense guide the game’s rhythm. Can the Bills pick up a key road win and put the pressure on New England? Or will Pittsburgh pick up that ninth win and tie the Bills in the wild card standings? We have your Sunday Night Football preview right here.
Bills vs Steelers 2019 NFL Week 15 Lines, Game Analysis & Prediction
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— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 9, 2019
- When: Sunday, December 15, 2019, 8:20 pm ET
- Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
- TV: NBC
- Radio: Westwood One
- Live Stream: NFL Game Pass
- NFL Odds: Buffalo +2 / O/U 36.5
Why should you bet on the Bills?
Lamar Jackson ended up throwing three touchdown passes in the Ravens’ win over the Buffalo Bills, but the Bills showed the Ravens that they can keep up with him, in a possible preview of a playoff matchup down the road. Buffalo picked off Jackson once and put up three tackles for loss. The Bills did make a huge mistake, just after halftime, leaving Hayden Hurst wide open, and Jackson found him for a 61-yard touchdown pass. However, the Ravens battled back and had a chance to tie the game late.
Buffalo only gained 205 yards of offense against the Ravens — but the Ravens’ defense is tougher than that of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Ravens’ offense is much better as well. Buffalo has not beaten a team with a winning record since Week 5, but the wins they have posted have shown greater control of the game. Now they head to take on a Pittsburgh team starting their third-string quarterback, and as well as Devlin Hodges has done in managing games, the Bills’ defense will be the best one he has faced.
Why should you put your money on the Steelers?
Pittsburgh did not get huge numbers out of Devlin Hodges against Arizona, but they got enough to win. He went 16 for 19 for 152 yards and a touchdown. He did fumble once, bu the recovered it. He took three sacks for 17 yards. The Steelers lost two fumbles as a team and need to improve their ball security against an opportunistic team such as the Bills. In the running game, the Steelers combined for 140 yards, 34 from Hodges and 82 yards from the tailbacks.
The Steelers’ defense was stout, picking off three Kyler Murray passes in the win. Their other touchdown came on an 85-yard punt return from Diontae Johnson. The Steelers need all three phases of the game to keep firing if they are going to beat a team like Buffalo, even at home. The Steelers have really bought in as a team since that early going when they were just 1-4. The Bills represent a test, and if you like Pittsburgh in this game you see their defense and special teams carrying the team once again.
Final Score Prediction
I’m a little confused by this line, because while Pittsburgh did beat Arizona by six points, the Cardinals are not equal with the Buffalo Bills on either side of the ball. The Bills have not shown any fear in road games this year, so I don’t see playing at Heinz Field posing any sort of mental hurdle. I see the Bills winning, 20-16.
