Steelers vs. Bills, Week 1: Knee Jerk Reactions to the Steelers’ 23-16 win over the Bills

Knee-jerk Reactions are immediate responses to a situation without taking the time to analyze the situation. That’s something as sports fans that we typically do. Especially if you are a full blood Yinzer, or even just a part Yinzer, who am I fooling it’s more like if you are a Steeler fan in general. As is the custom, I compile my knee-jerk thoughts and publish them immediately after each Steelers game (my son Kyle might have a few things to say as well). It’s my version of running my mouth first and apologizing later. So with that being said, I’m going to employ that philosophy here during Week 1 of the 2021 NFL Season. Let’s get this going, HERE......WE......GO!!!

1st Quarter

• Steelers won the toss and deferred. Boy does that look like a mistake after a 70-plus yard return.
• Nothing like starting this season similar to how last season ended.
• The Steelers defense holds to a three and kick. And I already have Kyle saying that three plays in T.J. Watts being held with no flag.
• The Steelers special teams unit is responsible for the three points given up on that drive. Bill's 3, Steelers 0
• Okay I have to bring it up after seeing the commercial. But is anybody seen Aaron Rodgers new man bun? The guy went from being sometimes a tool to a total tool.
• The Steelers do manage one first down but are then forced to punt when Ben overthrows Diontae Johnson.
• The Thicc Kick comes in and pins the Bills inside the 15.
• After the Bills commit a holding penalty to keep Ingram from sacking the quarterback, the Steelers get them to a third and 10. Need to hold.
• Come on they make him throw it short and then can't tackle the guy.
• So far not all that impressed with the defense.
• Josh Allen missed a receiver running wide open behind the defense. The Steelers definitely got lucky there.
• The Bills had three holding calls on that drive. They were not able to overcome the last two. Steelers get the ball back.
• I cannot believe that they just called Claypool for that penalty that should have been a penalty on the Bills player.
• How is that not intentional grounding? There wasn't a Buffalo Bill player within 10 yards of that ball.
• Cam Sutton breaks up the throw on the flea flicker. That was a great break on that play by Sutton.
• JuJu goes up and makes the catch for a first down.
• That play had an interesting design and was tossed out to James Washington for a gain of eight. That was neat.
• Kyle just said that Randyland had a stroke watching that last play.
• Minus the big kickoff return to start the game this would be scoreless but instead it's Bills 3 Steelers 0.

2nd Quarter

• Chukes look bad on that run play.
• And the Steelers punt yet again.
• Josh Allen made a nice read and decided to run the ball on that play. The inside linebackers bailed out into pass coverage and he just ran where they vacated.
• It looked like the defensive alignment there confused Josh Allen. Joe Schobert was lined up at outside linebacker and Melvin Ingram was in the middle.
• On 3rd and 8th Dotson has a false start. This young line can't afford to make these kind of mistakes if they can't run block any better than they are.
• Steelers go three and out, and then Thicc Kicc comes in and shanks one. Looking very Jordan Berry-like he is.
• 3rd and 13, I would like to see Mr Watt earn some of that money he just made. Boy did he just come through. Strip sack fumble, Steelers recover.
• The Steelers sack streak continues.
• The offense did absolutely nothing yards wise, after gaining 10 and then losing 10.
• Right now it's easy to see that all of those question marks that were there on the offense prior to the season still have an awful lot of question marks.
• Steelers get them in first and 20 and then play way too soft and give up 9 or 10 yards.
• Sure was nice of the telecast to make sure we didn't get to see that last play so I'm not actually sure what happened to give the Bills that big gain.
• So after what I just saw we are only going to call taunting during the preseason, as it was obvious that Stefon Diggs should have been flagged for it right there.
• Cam Sutton didn't come through on that coverage in Buffalo gets a touchdown right at the end of the first half.
• First half complete with the Steelers holding 54 yards of total offense. Buffalo 10, Steelers 0.

3rd Quarter

• Ben tried to extend the play and threw an ill-advised pass for an interception, but is bailed out on a holding call.
• I am noticing that Ben is really only targeting DJ and JuJu.
• That was a terrible throw by Roethlisberger.
• Finally Ben throws the ball towards a tight end and Ebron comes up with a big catch for a first down.
• CLAYPOOL!!!
• For the second time today Ben makes a terrible throw towards Najee Harris. Steelers are going to have to settle for a field goal attempt.
• Boswell is good and the Steelers offense finally shows a little bit of life. Buffalo 10, Steelers 3.
• The Steelers had more offensive yards on that drive than they had the entire first half.
• That third down and three completion is just too easy for the Bills.
• Steelers give up another third down and three conversion. This time a quick little draw by Josh Allen.
• Buffalo going forward on fourth down and eight. Cam Sutton makes the play in the secondary and the Steelers take over.
• MUUUTH!!!
• Claypool on the end around runs it down inside the five. That was a great looking play. With Kendrick "Quadrick" Green out there leading the way.
• If Ben throw that ball outside to Ebron it's probably a touchdown.
• Steelers fail to get into the touchdown zone and are settling for a field goal attempt again. Bills 10, Steelers 6.
• If the defense is going to play the style they were in on that first down play then they cannot totally whiff on tackles like they just did.
• Oh come on! You can't let the quarterback scramble for 10 yd on third down.
• End of three, Bills 10, Steelers 6.

4th Quarter

• Too easy.
• Minkah with a big stop.
• Bills go for it on 4th and 1 and Cam Sutton blows up the trick play.
• Now let's go down and score a touchdown here and take the lead.
• If we're going to have Ben hold the ball for that long behind the line of scrimmage, why are we doing that to throw a pass behind the line of scrimmage.
• Claypool draws the pass interference on third and seven. Steelers drive stays in business.
• Najee with a big run taking it inside the 5-yard line. That's why we picked this guy in the first round.
• Diontae Johnson with a circus catch in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown!
• Steelers grab their first lead of the game and their first lead of the 2021 season. Score now Bills 10, Steelers 13.
• Beautiful play by James Pierre to knock the ball away from the receiver.
• SACK!!!
• Blocked for touchdown! UGIII with the score. Killebrew with the block!!
• That was a huge play for the Steelers.
• Come on defense let's not get too soft here. Let's hold them again and get the ball back.
• Thank you Edmunds for making that textbook tackle in the secondary after nobody touched Singletary through the line.
• Singletary is gashing us right now. Bills all but ready to score.
• The defense holds Buffalo to a field goal. Buffalo 13, Steelers 20.
• JuJu with the 15-yard catch might have just sealed it.
• Then JuJu goes ahead and backs them up five yards with a false start.
• Ben runs it and gets seven about 7 yd. Glad to see that old guy can still move.
• Ben gets a first down completed Claypool. Buffalo calls timeout.
• Najee loses one on the carry but forces Buffalo to call another time out.
• Big third and 11 coming up.
• And on third and 11 they throw it two yards behind the line of scrimmage to James Washington to get two yards. Buffalo calls their third and final time out.
• Boswell perfectly splits the uprights to make it a 10-point game. Now please boot this one out of the end zone.
• Allen barely gets the ball away to avoid the sack. Got to stop this third and 10.
• Melvin Ingram hits Alan as he's throwing to get the incomplete pass!
• You can't let them convert the 4th and 10. Two-minute warning.
• Watt with the sack!
• Of course they're not calling holding while they're mugging T.J. now.
• Buffalo goes ahead and kicks a field goal making the score Bills 16, Steelers 23.
• JuJu recovers the onside kick. You can wrap this one up with a bow.
• Steelers take a knee. Final score Steelers 23, Bills 16. What a great start to go on the road and beat the Bills..

There you have it, my knee jerks. What were your thoughts? Be sure to get your opinions heard in the comment section below. Now time to process it, some quick analyzing for the Scho Bro Show, and then put it behind me as the Steelers move on to Week 2 at home against the Raiders. CAN’T WAIT!!!!!