The Buffalo Bills will look for some clarity to their quarterback situation when they take on the Pittsburgh Steelers Saturday on the NFL Network. Bills head coach Rex Ryan said he wouldn’t make the same mistakes in his new gig that he did with the Jets. He’s off to a bad start.
ODDS
The Bills are 0-4 SU and ATS in their last four preseason home games and opened as 2.5-point chalk against the Steelers. The total surfaced at 42.5.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
Pittsburgh’s Landry Jones is the busiest quarterback this preseason and he’s done quite well. Unfortunately he won’t supplant Ben Roethlisberger as the starter. Moving ahead of Bruce Gradkowski as the top backup is a long shot too, though he’s getting closer. While Big Ben takes limited snaps and Gradkowski works his way back after recently taken off the physically unable to perform list, Jones has filled in. Jones is likely straddling the sideline this week as Roethlisberger and Gradkowski get their reps in the dress rehearsal.
Bills coach Rex Ryan wants to keep the identity of his regular season Week 1 starting quarterback a secret for as long as possible. He also apparently wants to keep the identity of his preseason Week 3 starter under wraps too. Ryan wouldn’t commit to naming a starter for Saturday but hinted at the possibility of three of his four quarterbacks getting first-team reps against the Steelers. Matt Cassel was the starter in the Bills preseason opener and Tyrod Taylor started under center last week. E.J. Manuel split reps with Taylor last week with Cassel not playing to allow Ryan and his staff to evaluate the two less experienced players.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin accepts that injuries are inevitable and develops the mind-set for his players to compensate for them. Tomlin, who will never use “devastating” to describe an injury, reminded his team this week that they’re capable of stepping up and delivering when it was learned starting center and locker room leader Maurkice Pouncey’s ankle injury would require surgery. “They’re all capable men, capable of playing above the line and providing winning ball for us. That’s something we talk about openly,” Tomlin said. “That’s one of the things about sport in general that I love. It’s black-and-white, either you do it or you don’t. You’re successful or you’re not. You win or you lose. I try to keep it as close to that as I can in everything that we do.”
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We’re very confident in all of the quarterbacks. It’s not just one particular quarterback we have our trust in. All three do a great job of making plays. It’s a tough decision for coach, but at the end of the day we know we have three quarterbacks that can play for this team.” – Bills safety Aaron Williams on the team’s quarterback battle
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
Ryan said his quarterback competition remains open, and he will not name a starter until just before the regular season opener. He doesn’t want to give Indianapolis any edge. “We don’t need to tell them,” Ryan said. “We may know, but why would say any different?” The battle continues between Tyrod Taylor, E.J. Manuel and Matt Cassel with each having strong showings this preseason. Taylor started last week with Manuel directing a game-winning touchdown drive and two-point conversion for a win over Cleveland. Cassel started the preseason opener but was left on the sidelines last week. Ryan hinted that all three might get first-team reps against the Steelers.
INJURIES
The Steelers lost the leader of their offensive line when Maurkice Pouncey was floored with an ankle injury Sunday against the Packers. Starting defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt also suffered an ankle injury in the game and was carted off the field.
Receiver Chris Hogan left Buffalo’s game Thursday with an ankle injury and is expected to be out. The Bills are likely without receiver Percy Harvin and running back Karlos Williams as they continue to mend from injuries, but both should be available for the season opener.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It might seem like a good plan in Ryan’s head to not leak any information about the starting quarterback job, but the mind games have to wear on the men competing. It’s hard to imagine the three quarterbacks have no separation at this point and it’s more than likely Ryan is just being a goof about the situation. Internally the players may know, but Ryan’s shtick is getting old.
Pittsburgh 24, Buffalo 18
The NFL spread for this Saturday game was first available at BookMaker sportsbook and the Bills surfaced as 2.5-point chalk. The total opened at 42.5. Minute-by-minute spreads, totals and props are available for this game using the live betting platform at BookMaker.
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