Steelers vs. Bills: Previewing Buffalo's Week 3 Preseason Matchup

The Buffalo Bills, coming off an 11-10 road victory against the Cleveland Browns last week, will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday afternoon in Buffalo, New York.

Now 1-1 in the preseason, the Bills will hope to answer some of their major remaining questions—particularly at starting quarterback—in a matchup of what figure to be two of the league’s premier defenses in 2015. Impressive youngsters like second-round pick Ronald Darby, a cornerback out of Florida State, will look to build on successful Week 2 performances.

Others, including second-year offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and rookie tight end Nick O’Leary, will aim to improve upon what have been less-than-stellar training camps. O’Leary, in particular, looks to be fighting for a spot on the regular-season Week 1 roster.

Both teams are coming off wins in Week 2 of the preseason: The Bills defeated Cleveland on a game-winning touchdown and two-point conversion from quarterback EJ Manuel, and the Steelers knocked off the Green Bay Packers 24-19.

Game Details

Location: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo

Time: 4 p.m. ET

TV: NFL Network

News and Notes

David Richard/Associated Press

Buffalo QB Matt Cassel

Head coach Rex Ryan and the Bills are keeping things interesting at quarterback.

As WKBW’s Joe Buscaglia reported Sunday, the three signal-callers competing for the starting job—Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and Manuel—will likely share first-team snaps Saturday against the Steelers. And for Ryan, the competition is a good thing.

In Week 1 of the preseason, Cassel was his usual steady self, completing seven of eight passes for 45 yards. But he was also unremarkable and has a history of being a low-risk, low-reward type of player—not the leader of a playoff-bound or Super Bowl-contending team. He didn't play in Week 2.

Manuel and Taylor, meanwhile, turned in excellent Week 2 performances: Manuel was 9-of-14 throwing and finished with a 112.5 rating, while Taylor demonstrated dangerous foot speed.

Preseason statistics are skewed by backup performances and cautious injury policies, but the Steelers defense has ranked fifth thus far. If one of Buffalo's quarterback candidates can effectively move the ball against the Pittsburgh D, he’ll make a strong case heading into the preseason’s final week. Bills fans will be keeping their eyes on the quarterback battle Saturday.

Latest Injury News

Associated Press

Bills WR Percy Harvin

Plenty has been made of Buffalo’s preseason injury woes, but the Bills saw some positive developments during practice Tuesday. Running backs LeSean McCoy (hamstring), Bryce Brown (hamstring) and Boobie Dixon (calf), along with receiver Sammy Watkins (glute), returned to the practice field for a series of conditioning drills.

All four have been battling injuries, and the team has been cautious with their rehabs. Watkins and McCoy, in particular, will carry huge offensive loads for Buffalo if the team's playoff hopes are to be realized.

According to the Buffalo News' Tyler Dunne, the four were joined on the sideline by Robert Woods—the team’s likely No. 2 receiver—and oft-injured wideout Percy Harvin, who has missed the past two weeks with a hip injury. Though Harvin did not wear pads, and none of the aforementioned players participated in 11-on-11 drills, Bills fans should be cautiously optimistic that their premier offensive weapons will be on the field in Week 1 of the regular season.

Given the nature of the NFL’s preseason, it’s tough to say which of the above players (if any) will play against Pittsburgh. But it’s good to see them on the field.

According to ESPN's Mike Rodak, Bills tight end Charles Clay left practice early Tuesday with an apparent knee injury, but the Associated Press (via Idaho Statesman) reported he is expected to play Saturday.

Key Matchups

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

Buffalo CB Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby vs. Steelers Receivers

Darby, a second-round pick from Florida State, was impressive in Cleveland. He picked off Browns QB Josh McCown twice and appeared more comfortable in coverage. But he struggled against Carolina in Week 1, and a strong performance Saturday would offer more consistency to his up-and-down preseason. 

Darby figures to have his hands full with the Steelers. Pittsburgh star wideout Antonio Brown will probably play limited minutes, but he will test the entire Buffalo defense wherever and whenever he is on the field.

Steelers rookie Tyler Murphy, meanwhile, is coming off a four-catch, 61-yard, one-touchdown performance against Green Bay in which the offense targeted him only four times. Fellow rookie Shakim Phillips also looked sharp against the Packers, finishing with three catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. Darby has an opportunity here to demonstrate some dependability.

Nick O’Leary vs. Pittsburgh Secondary

On the other side of the ball, O’Leary has some work to do to earn a roster spot. Clay, the presumed No. 1 tight end, will probably play after leaving practice early Tuesday, but the No. 2 spot on the depth chart has been up for grabs throughout the preseason—and O’Leary has not performed well.

Rather, as Buscaglia wrote, O’Leary has gone “from second string to possibly off the team.”

Ryan, speaking to reporters after practice Tuesday, acknowledged the questions surrounding O’Leary. In response to a question about O’Leary’s odds of making the team, Ryan responded, “I don’t know, I can tell you that is some great competition there. ... So I don’t know, it’s going to be tough to make this team, but I like the way he’s playing.

"I don’t think it’s necessarily showed in the games yet, but we’ll see what happens.”

Last week, Green Bay’s tight ends enjoyed limited success against Pittsburgh. The Packers’ Richard Rodgers had three catches on four targets for 30 yards and a touchdown; if O’Leary is to prove himself this week, he’ll need to put up better numbers and improve upon his currently woeful stat line (zero catches in two games).

Be sure that O’Leary knows his situation, and watch to see if he steps up.

X-Factor

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Bills' DT Corbin Bryant

Defensive Tackle Corbin Bryant

According to Buscaglia, Corbin Bryant has impressed throughout camp, playing against an improved Buffalo offensive line and turning heads in both preseason games. After two seasons of middling performances, Bryant has placed himself in a position to contribute meaningful minutes throughout the season, and presumptive starter Marcell Dareus—who sat out Sunday—will miss Week 1 of the regular season while serving his one-game suspension. The Bills will rely on Bryant to continue his torrid pace when the regular season starts up.

Last week, the Steelers racked up 312 yards of total offense—only 42 of which came on the ground, on 26 carries. And while Pittsburgh star running back Le’Veon Bell had just six carries, the team averaged an abysmal 1.6 yards per rush. Bryant will play a critical role if Buffalo is to similarly limit the Steelers' production, something that will be vital to a Bills victory.

Prediction

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Bills 17, Steelers 10

Again, this is the preseason, so predictions are even tougher than usual. It’s nearly impossible to know who will play, let alone how. But in a matchup of defensive stalwarts, the Bills will pull out a win in a low-scoring game because of their quarterback situation.

Last week, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was excellent, going 11-of-14 for 100 yards, one touchdown and a 120.2 rating. But his minutes will be limited, and barring injury, he’s the regular-season starter for Pittsburgh. No matter how well Landry Jones plays, he'll be on the bench in the regular season if Roethlisberger is healthy. 

Buffalo has no such comfort. For Saturday's entire game, Buffalo will have a quarterback on the field fighting for a starting job. Cassel, Taylor and Manuel will all take reps and be looking to make a serious splash; that incentive will matter come the fourth quarter, when many Steelers starters will be sitting down.

Buffalo may or may not prove to be better than Pittsburgh during the regular season, but the team's QB battle will give the Bills a late-game edge in the preseason.