- For the first time since 1991, Bill Cowher won't be on the sidelines for the Pittsburgh Steelers' home opener. Instead, Mike Tomlin will make his home head coaching debut on Sunday, when his club welcomes the Buffalo Bills to Heinz Field.
Despite the fact that Tomlin served as Minnesota's defensive coordinator last season, the Steelers had no problem putting points up on the board in a 34-7 rout of the Browns last Sunday.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a career-high four touchdown passes in the victory and brings a 15-5 record at home into Sunday's contest. His performance helped Tomlin become the third straight Steelers' head coach to win his first game, joining Chuck Noll and Cowher.
Not to be outdone, the Pittsburgh defense held the Browns to just 221 yards, forced five turnovers and posted a collective six sacks in an impressive effort. The club also escaped from the contest relatively injury free, as cornerback Deshea Townsend is the only starter listed on this week's report. He is probable with a groin injury.
Pittsburgh has won four straight and five of its past six home openers. The Steelers are also trying to start a season 2-0 for the second time in three seasons.
Historically, the club needs one more win to reach 500 regular-season victories, which would make them the first AFC team to accomplish the feat.
For the Bills, calling their final-second setback to Denver last week a heartbreaker would be an understatement. Not only did they have to deal with the painful loss to the Broncos, but all thoughts during and after the game were on tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a cervical spinal fracture while making a tackle during the opening kickoff of the second half.
Everett left the field in an ambulance and immediately went into surgery. The initial prognoses wasn't good, as operating surgeon Dr. Andrew Cappuccino dubbed the injury 'catastrophic' as well as life-threatening.
While those involved feared Everett would be left paralyzed by the injury, encouraging news came on Tuesday, when it was reported at the tight end was able to voluntarily move his arms and legs and gave hope to the idea of Everett walking again.
On the field, Buffalo will try to recover from Everett's injury and a 15-14 loss to Denver. The Bills led for most of the game until the Broncos' Jason Elam booted a 42-yard field goal in the final seconds.
Buffalo is making its first trip to Heinz Field, which opened in 2001, and will try to avoid its first 0-2 start since dropping the first four games of the 2004 season.
SERIES HISTORY
Pittsburgh has a 10-8 lead in the all-time regular season series with Buffalo, including a 29-24 road win when the teams last met in Week 17 of the 2004 season. The Steelers have won the last five meetings played between the teams in Pittsburgh, with the most recent coming in 1996, and Buffalo's only regular-season win in the Steel City came in 1975. The Bills' most recent win of any kind over Pittsburgh came at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 1999.
In addition to their regular-season advantage, the Steelers hold a 2-1 edge in the postseason series between the teams. Pittsburgh defeated Buffalo in AFC Divisional Playoff contests in 1974 and 1995, and the Bills were a 24-3 road winner in a 1992 AFC Divisional Playoff.
The Bills' Dick Jauron is 0-1 against the Steelers in his career as a head coach, with that loss coming when he was interim head man of the Lions at the end of the 2005 season. Tomlin will be meeting both Jauron and Buffalo for the first time as a head coach.
WHEN THE BILLS HAVE THE BALL
Buffalo received an encouraging outing from rookie running back Marshawn Lynch on Sunday. The 12th overall pick in last April's draft set a Bills' rookie record for rushing yards on opening day, totaling 90 on 19 carries along with a touchdown. Quarterback J.P. Losman completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts, but for just 97 yards. He was also picked off once and sacked twice. In all, it wasn't an encouraging sign for the Bills, as they mustered just 184 yards of offense. Perhaps the club will get another solid outing from wideout Roscoe Parrish, who returned a punt 74 yards to the end zone to give the Bills their first points of the game. Losman will also try to get wide receiver Lee Evans more involved this week, as he made only two catches for five yards.
That's easier said than done against an energized Steelers defense that was all over the Browns last weekend. Defensive back Ike Taylor (5 tackles) and Townsend both recorded interceptions, with Taylor also chipping in a sack. Linebacker James Farrior (4 tackles) also had a solid game with a sack, quarterback hit and forced fumble. In total, seven different players got their hands on the Browns' quarterbacks last weekend, and Tomlin won't be shy about bringing pressure again versus the Bills. Another good sign was that almost every player on the defensive side of the ball was involved, as outside linebacker James Harrison was the leading tackler with seven stops. Eleven different Steelers had two or more tackles in the game.
WHEN THE STEELERS HAVE THE BALL
Roethlisberger found four different receivers for touchdowns against the Browns, connecting with tight ends Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth, while also finding wideouts Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes in the end zone. Holmes may be emerging as Big Ben's deep threat, as the second-year player hauled in a pretty 40-yard score. Willie Parker had a quiet 100-yard rushing day, breaking off 109 yards on 27 carries. If this offense clicks like it did last week against the Browns, the banged-up Bills defense is in some trouble.
In addition to Everett's loss, Buffalo also suffered a rash of other injuries during the game to its already-depleted defensive unit. Cornerback Jason Webster and starting free safety Ko Simpson have landed on injured reserve after suffering a broken forearm and fractured ankle, respectively. Linebacker Coy Wire is out indefinitely after spraining his knee during the contest.
Wire was already replacing Keith Ellison, who is out with an ankle injury in the starting lineup. Defensive end Ryan Denney is also sidelined with a foot ailment, while end Anthony Hargrove will serve the second game of his four- game suspension this weekend for violating the league's substance abuse policy. To help fill the injury void, the Bills signed defensive back Bryan Scott, defensive end Copeland Bryan and linebacker Leon Joe this week.
Jim Leonhard took over for Simpson and paced the Bills with 13 tackles and an interception in Sunday's loss, while rookie middle linebacker Paul Posluszny posted nine tackles in his debut. Linebacker Angelo Crowell chipped in with 10 tackles and fifth-year corner Terrence McGee had three passes defensed. Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel had three tackles but no sacks, leaving him 1 1/2 shy of moving into second place on the Bills' all-time sack list.
FANTASY FOCUS
A majority of the Steelers' offense deserves a look this week, especially given the current injury state of the Bills' defense. Ride the hot hand of Big Ben as well as Parker, who should find the end zone as many as two times on Sunday. Also start Ward, but wait another week before you move Holmes into your permanent rotation. Also start the Steelers' defense if you have them. This probably isn't a good week for any of your Bills players, though. Losman and Lynch are going to face a high amount of pressure, meaning low numbers for Evans as well.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
This is the story of two sides of the coin. The Steelers are riding high after a blowout win over the Browns, while the Bills are dealing with a tragedy in the locker room and a last-second loss. Football may be far from the minds of many Buffalo players this week, but the team still has to step on the field Sunday, and there is no telling how Everett's injury while affect the club. Pittsburgh will show little mercy on the field and will throw the kitchen sink at a rattled Buffalo team. The Steelers should find themselves in good field position throughout the game and should cruise to a victory over the weary Bills.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Steelers 28, Bills 10
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