Buffalo Bills Still Optimistic After Loss to Pittsburgh Steelers

The Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen were stifled by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. After a promising 2020 campaign by the Bills, they've started this season on the wrong foot, losing to the Steelers 23-16. The Bills struggled from the get-go, and Allen showed poor accuracy all game long. The good news - it's a long season and Allen reiterated that to the media postgame.

"It's not what we hope for, what we strive for, how we want to start the season," Allen said "That's why we're playing 17. You know, we're not expecting to win them all. We go into each game expecting to win, but we understand that it's a long season. A lot to learn from this tape, honestly starting with me."

"We've been here before, it's one game. I know the expectations are high and that comes with the territory."@FreyElectric | #PITvsBUF
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2021

Allen was an MVP candidate last season so not many were predicting a drop-off, but it's absolutely possible. His play yesterday looked much like his first two seasons in the NFL where his QB rating was below 50. A hit early in the game seemed to shake his confidence in the pocket and connecting with his receivers from deep range was an issue once again. His biggest improvement from 2019 to 2020 was his quick, short route passes but that was nowhere to be found yesterday.

It is just Week 1 after all but that's not what the Buffalo fanbase wanted to see. All the blame can't be placed on Allen and the Bills, however. The Steelers pass rush kept piling on the Bills and T.J. Watt's four-year, $112 million contract extension looks even better after his two sacks and forced fumble.