Dec 10, 2016 5 min read

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – A year ago, the Steelers needed a win by the Buffalo Bills over the New York Jets in the final week of the regular season to have a chance to make the playoffs.

The Bills did the Steelers that favor and Pittsburgh slid into the postseason with a little help from its friends.

But don’t look for the Steelers to be in the giving mood today when they visit Buffalo’s New Era Stadium.

With Pittsburgh at 7-5 and tied for the lead in the AFC North, and Buffalo at 6-6 and needing to win to keep its fading wildcard hopes alive, this is as close to a playoff game as you’ll get in mid-December.

“It’s December football,” said Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. “To get to where we desire to be, we’ve got to make it a December to remember.”

With their 24-14 win over the New York Giants last weekend, the Steelers improved to 8-1 in December since 2014. That one loss – last year at Baltimore in Week 16 – could have cost the Steelers a postseason berth had they not gotten help from the Bills.

Pittsburgh is very aware that it controls its own playoff fate and wants to avoid another stumble that might force them to look outside for help.

“We always want to just worry about what’s going on in the stadium we’re in,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “We don’t want to have to look around. We’ve done that in years past. For us to go out and take care of our business is important.”

The Bills and the the NFL’s top-rated running game give the Steelers plenty about which to be concerned. Buffalo averages 162 rushing yards per game and does it in different ways. Running backs Le’Sean McCoy (949 yards) and Mike Gillislee (375) are one of the more dangerous combos in the NFL and quarterback Tyrod Taylor has 469 rushing yards. All three average 5.5 yards per carry or more.

That trio will test the Steelers, who might be without two of their top three defensive linemen. End Cameron Heyward was lost for the season to a torn pectoral muscle four weeks ago, nose tackle Javon Hargrave is doubtful after suffering a concussion last week.

“They have so many guys who can run the ball who are all elusive,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “They have a lot of people who do a good job in the running game. The biggest thing for us to win this game is we’ve got to tackle well.”

Weather could be a major factor. There is a 70 percent chance of snow in Buffalo and wind also might be an issue along Lake Erie.

“It’s cold. It’s what you love watching,” said Roethlisberger. “I grew up when (former Bills quarterback) Jim Kelly was one of the guys and watching some of those playoff games they had up there, just how cold and brutal it was. That’s just what you expect in Buffalo.”

Pittsburgh’s running game has the attention of the Bills. Le’Veon Bell has three-straight 100-yard rushing games for the first time in his career as the Steelers have gone to a balanced attack during their current three-game winning streak.

“That is a bad man right there,” said McCoy, a Pitt product. “Watching him, his first year, second year, I saw how good he was. He is one of the best backs in the league.”

There’s plenty of respect on both sides. The Steelers know they can’t let McCoy and the Bills’ running game get going and the Bills know they will have their hands full with Pittsburgh’s offense. The game could come down to defense. That typically has been the case when Tomlin’s teams have matched up against Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan’s defenses in both Baltimore and with the New York Jets.

“Unfortunately, I have a lot of nightmarish memories about Pittsburgh, but I have some good ones, too,” said Ryan. “I love the competition. (Steelers head coach) Mike Tomlin is one of the guys I respect as much as any coach in the league. He does a great job. It’s great to see (Steelers 38-year-old linebacker) James Harrison still playing. I think the world of him. He whipped a lot of players, but he whipped Father Time as well. He is still playing great.”

A win today would be the 100th in the regular season for Tomlin, who is 99-57 in his 10 seasons. … Having already beaten the Jets and Giants, the Steelers will be going for a sweep of all three New York teams for the first time since 2004. … Brown and Roethlisberger have combined for 49 touchdowns, which is tied with Terry Bradshaw and Lynn Swann for the most in team history. … Buffalo allows 14.0 yards per catch to opposing tight ends, the worst in the NFL. Steelers tight end Ladarius Green averages 18.8 yards per catch.