The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t supposed to be in the AFC Playoffs. Then again, there was a time in the 2023 regular season when the Buffalo Bills weren’t supposed to be in the postseason either. Nonetheless, the two teams met in the Wild Card Round with the Bills, No. 2 seed, and the Steelers, No. 7 seed, on Monday after blizzard conditions forced the game to be moved from Sunday to Monday.

Will this be just another upset for what has already been a crazy Wild Card round across the NFL, or will the Bills prove they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender once again?

After the Bills won the coin toss, they elected to defer their possession to the second half. That put Mason Rudolph and the Steelers offense on the field to start the game. A screen pass to Jaylen Warren got the offense near midfield, but that is when the drive stalled and Pressley Harvin III was called on for early duty.

Harvin’s punt was fair caught at the 20, not nearly the “pinning them deep” punt most were expecting. The Bills took the ball and didn’t have a negative play in the next 80-yard drive. Not an incomplete pass, tackle for loss, or even a stop for no gain. They moved the ball easily down the field, and when they reached the red-zone it was Josh Allen hitting tight end Dawson Knox in for the opening score. The extra point was good, making the score 7-0 with 7:02 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Steelers’ next possession ended with a 3-and-out, and the Pittsburgh defense matched by forcing the Bills to a 3-and-out of their own.

Pittsburgh’s first play on their third possession was a pass to George Pickens. Pickens tried to break a tackle and fumbled in the process. The play was ruled incomplete, but was challenged and overturned. With the Bills just outside the red-zone, the next play was Josh Allen hitting another tight end, this time Dalton Kincaid, for their second touchdown. The extra point made it 14-0 with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Another Steelers’ 3-and-out gave the ball right back to the red-hot Bills offense; however, the Steelers defense stood tall and got the ball right back to the offense after a 3-and-out. Pittsburgh moved the ball on the next drive with a big pass play to Pat Freiermuth getting the ball near midfield. A checkdown to Allen Robinson got the ball into Buffalo territory as the first quarter came to an end.

To start the second quarter the Steelers had the ball facing a 2nd and 1 at the Buffalo, and Najee Harris picked up the necessary yardage, and then some, moving the ball well within field goal range. Even facing a 2nd and 21 following a sack of Rudolph, the Steelers got the yards to gain and faced a 1st and goal situation after a defensive pass interference call on Buffalo set up the offense. 2nd and goal was another turnover as Rudolph was intercepted in the end-zone, leaving the Steelers with nothing to show for their latest drive.

Starting at the 20, the Bills continued to move the ball with ease on the Pittsburgh defense, and it was capped off with a 52-yard Josh Allen touchdown run. The score made it 21-0 with just under 7 minutes left in the first half.

It was more of the same for the Steelers offense, and they gave the ball right back to the Bills. Allen and company got the ball on the cusp of field goal range, and when facing a 49-yard field goal Buffalo elected to try the field goal. The Bass kick was blocked and recovered in Buffalo territory by Nick Herbig.

Blocked 💪

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 15, 2024

The Steelers, in desperate need of points, were able to turn the decision to kick a field goal into a touchdown when Rudolph hit Diontae Johnson on the slate for the Steelers first score of the game.

.@Juiceup__3 in for 6️⃣

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 15, 2024

Chris Boswell’s extra point was good, making the score 21-7 with 1:39 left in the first half. The Bills did little with their last drive, and both teams headed into the locker rooms with the 21-7 score standing.

The Bills received the football to start the 3rd quarter, and it was a short possession with just three plays before punting the ball back to Pittsburgh. A combination of run and pass moved the ball into Buffalo territory. As the Bills continued losing defenders due to injury, the Steelers took advantage and got into field goal range. Unfortunately, that was as far as they got and had to settle for a 40-yard Boswell field goal to make the score 21-10 with 8:50 left in the 3rd quarter.

Buffalo took a lot of time off the clock on their next drive, over 7 minutes to be exact, and it was a Bass field goal to make it a two touchdown game again, 24-10. In the waning minutes of the 3rd quarter the Steelers offense took over with their hopes hanging by a thread. However, George Pickens showed up in a big way with a clutch catch on 3rd down and an end around run the very next play to set up the Steelers in Buffalo territory to end the 3rd quarter.

Pittsburgh’s offense connected on key third down conversions, and eventually saw themselves in a 1st and goal situation. On 3rd down it was Rudolph who hit Calvin Austin III for the Steelers touchdown.

.@Rudolph2Mason ➡️ @CalvinAustinIII for the TD 🎯

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 16, 2024

Boswell made the extra point, making it a one score game, 24-17 with 10:32 left in the fourth quarter.

The Bills responded, as they always do, but the drive was aided by the officiating on multiple plays. Nonetheless, when the defense needed a stop, it was Minkah Fitzpatrick missing a tackle and Bills wide receiver Shakir escaped into the end-zone to make the score 31-17 with 6:27 remaining in regulation.

The Steelers faced a 4th and 3 on their next possession, and the pass intended for George Pickens was incomplete, equating in a turnover on downs. Buffalo’s ground game took over in taking valuable time off the clock, and it looked like they add to their point total. However, the chip shot field goal by Bass sailed wide left, keeping the score 31-17 with under two minutes remaining.

Despite a final drive, it was too little too late for the Steelers, and the final score read 31-17 when the scoreboard hit zeroes.

The loss ended the Steelers season, failing to win a playoff game since 2016. It also equates in another game where the team couldn’t win without their All-World pass rusher T.J. Watt. The Steelers now enter an offseason which will have many difficult decisions awaiting the organization. Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as a tumultuous offseason begins.