The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves as massive underdogs in their Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills. While the majority of football fans have written the Steelers off and think they’ll lose by a couple of touchdowns, not everyone feels that way.
Fox Sports / The Carton Show
Steelers Super Bowl champion Willie Colon waves the Terrible Towel during The Carton Show.
Steelers Super Bowl Champion Makes Bold Claim
Fox NFL analyst Willie Colon made a bold prediction on The Carton Show Tuesday morning. He was part of the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Colon believes that the Steelers will dominate the Bills in the Wild Card round.
"The Steelers play a different brand of football. We pride ourselves; this is a religion in Pittsburgh. We beat people up, we eat your food, we take your Christmas decorations, and we wear your presents because we DOMINATE during the holiday time."
He started waving the Terrible Towel and yelled another statement about Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“Josh Allen, you’re going straight to hell. Pittsburgh wins. Pittsburgh wins.”
While that statement was meant as a joke and everyone laughed, it is a very bold prediction for a team that has the longest odds to win a playoff game. The panel of the show pushed back and honestly asked Colon how the Steelers would even score on the Bills as 10-point underdogs.
“What do you mean? Show the clip again. Run it again. We’re not throwing it; we're coming downhill, between the tackles led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.”
Colon believes the Steelers' path to beating the Bills lies in force-feeding Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris, as they did against the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks. If you give Harris and Warren a combined 40+ carries, the Bills' rush defense is average at best. The Steelers can expose it.
In their recent three-game winning streak, the Steelers have significantly increased their emphasis on the running game, averaging an impressive 38.3 rushing attempts per contest. It's a strategy that has paid off handsomely, as they emerged victorious in all three matchups.
Associated Press
Steelers' Najee Harris (#22) picks up yards on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals.
This newfound commitment to the ground game aligns with the presence of two capable running backs who can shoulder the offensive workload effectively. For perspective, during the entire 2023 season, the Steelers averaged 28.6 rushing attempts per game. The shift towards a more run-oriented approach reflects a deliberate adjustment in their offensive strategy.
The Bills' rushing defense has allowed 110.6 yards per game to opposing offenses. The Steelers can control the time of possession by playing bully ball up front, winning the battle at the line, and pounding the run. When the Bills think they’ve committed to the run, all Mason Rudolph has to do is step up and make a couple of big throws, like he’s done in the last three games. Rudolph has this team rallied around him, and the Steelers believe they are a threat in the postseason.
AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph (2) attempts a pass against the Seattle Seahawks on December 31, 2023 at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA.
Rudolph has undeniably transformed the entire dynamic of the Steelers since taking the reins as the starting quarterback. His impact goes beyond just the offensive side of the ball; it extends to the team's overall attitude and performance.
In his three-game stint as the Steelers' starting quarterback, Rudolph has showcased his skills, amassing an impressive 716 passing yards and three touchdown throws. Most significantly, he has guided the team to three crucial victories during the most pivotal stretch of the season. Rudolph's arrival as a steadying force has injected new life and optimism into the Steelers, who are now poised for a playoff run with their renewed energy.
While the Steelers have some confidence, no one else does and believes the Steelers will get blasted out of Buffalo. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will look to win his first playoff game since Jan 15, 2017, against the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium. Tomlin will face this challenge without his top talent and one of the league's premier players, TJ Watt, as he has been ruled out for the game against the Bills.
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