Steelers-Bills NFL Week 1: What You Need To Know

PITTSBURGH, PA — There are plenty of reasons why the Steelers go into Sunday's season opener against the Buffalo Bills as definitive underdogs.

Sure, the Steelers finished 12-4 in 2020 before being manhandled by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the NFL playoffs. But the Bills finished 13-3 and one of their wins was a 26-15 victory against the Black and Gold.

The Steelers will start four rookies on offense: running back Najee Harris, center Kendrick Green, left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and tight end Pat Freiermuth, who is listed as a co-strarter at the position along with veteran Eric Ebron.

They will be led by 39-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The aging gunslinger entered the NFL in 2004 along with two other highly-touted quarterbacks, Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. Both now are retired, and questions about Roethlisberger's ability to perform at his age likely will linger all season.

The game also will be played in Buffalo, where they lost last season.

The Bills will be led by fourth-year quarterback Josh Allen, who had a pretty fair season in 2020. He threw for 4,544 yards, completed 69.2 percent of is passes and threw 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The much-heralded Steelers defense will have to be at the top of its game if the team is to pull an upset.

Here's what you need to know about the game:

• Where: Highmark Stadium, Buffalo

• When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

• Forecast: 30 percent chance of showers, high near 75.

• Favored: Buffalo by 6.5, according to Oddshark.com.

• Last meeting: Dec. 20, 2020, Bills won 26-15.

• All-time series: Steelers lead 16-11.

• Streak: Bills have won the last two games.

• TV: CBS, with Ian Eagle, Charles Davis and Evan Washburn.

• Radio: WDVE-FM with Bill Hillgrove, Craig Wolfley, Missi Matthews and Max Starks.

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