Bills vs. Steelers prediction: NFL wild card odds, picks, best bets
The Buffalo Bills were on the verge of missing the playoffs a few weeks ago but are now hosting a wild card game.
That’s how fast things change in the NFL.
Buffalo welcomes in the Steelers to chilly Western New York seeking its sixth consecutive victory, in a game moved from Sunday to Monday afternoon because of a mammoth snowstorm.
As of Monday morning, snow was still falling at Orchard Park and was expected to stick around into the afternoon.
The good news: The snowfall is expected to taper off by the 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, but the temperature could be a problem, with 15 degrees forecast and winds of around 15 mph that will make it seem much colder.
Buffalo closed November with a heartbreaking overtime loss at Philadelphia to slip to 6-6 and threaten its stranglehold on a fourth straight AFC East title.
But since then, the Bills strung together five straight victories, capped off by a 21-14 comeback win at Miami to close out the regular season and wrap up the division title.
Pittsburgh found a way to finish with a winning record once again under coach Mike Tomlin, finishing at 10-7.
The Steelers won their final three games to clinch a playoff berth, which was helped by Jacksonville melting down late in the season.
Pittsburgh is in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. They enter Monday’s game as the biggest underdog (+10) of the wild card round.
The issue for the Steelers this season has been a general lack of offense, as they went five straight weeks scoring 18 or fewer points prior to the late surge that coincided with a change of coordinators, from Matt Canada to the duo of Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan.
They scored a combined 64 points in wins over the Seahawks and Bengals before a 17-10 victory against Ravens’ backups in the season finale.
- Read our expert guide on how to bet on the NFL
While you always expect the Steelers to show up defensively, they’ll have to overcome the absence of T.J. Watt, who injured his knee against Baltimore and has been ruled out for this game.
These AFC foes didn’t meet during the regular season, but Buffalo routed Pittsburgh, 35-3, as a 14-point home favorite last season.
The Bills took care of business as a single-digit home favorite this season, going 4-1 straight-up and against the spread (ATS), but as double-digit favorites, they went 0-4 ATS and 0-3 at home.
Watt’s absence, however, changes things, and despite the frigid temps, the Bills should be able to put up points in this one.
The play: Bills -10 (-110, FanDuel)
