The Bills rolled into Acrisure Stadium and left with a 26-7 win, piling up a staggering 249 rushing yards while the Steelers managed just 166 total yards, a humbling defeat that left fans chanting “Fire Tomlin” and booing “Renegade” late in the game.
Buffalo’s ground game was the story from the start. James Cook finished with 144 rushing yards on 32 carries and the Bills totaled 249 rushing yards, the most ever allowed by Pittsburgh at Acrisure/Heinz Field, and that dominance flipped the game’s script in the second half. When an opponent can run at will, it short-circuits any chance for a comeback.
Pittsburgh’s offense offered little resistance. Drives stalled, third-down chances evaporated, and the unit never found rhythm against a Bills defense that controlled the line of scrimmage. The Steelers’ 166 total yards and inability to sustain drives put the defense in long, exhausting stretches and made the scoreboard gap feel inevitable.
On the other side of the ball, pressure was non‑existent. The Steelers recorded 0 sacks, and the pass rush failed to disrupt Josh Allen or the Buffalo backfield, even though Buffalo was missing both starting tackles, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, a missed opportunity that magnifies the defensive breakdown. Allowing nearly 250 rushing yards at home is an indictment of gap discipline, tackling, and scheme. Tony Romo was literally calling out what the Bills were going to run, but the Steelers once again made no adjustments.
The crowd’s reaction made the mood unmistakable. Fans booed when “Renegade” played to open the fourth quarter and later chanted “Fire Tomlin”, a raw expression of frustration after a second-half collapse that saw Pittsburgh outscored 23–0 following halftime. That level of public discontent reflects a fan base that’s tired of recurring mediocrity.
Given the roster and coaching continuity, there’s a growing case that the franchise would benefit more from a decisive reset than from squeaking out a win or two. A 6–11 finish and higher draft pick could accelerate a rebuild, rather than prolonging uncertainty and offering false hope to a fan base that’s already vocal about change. Will Howard should start under center next week at. Baltimore. The organization does not owe Aaron Rodgers anything and it is time to see what you got.
If the organization wants a different trajectory, it starts at the top. The coaching staff and front office must be held accountable; many fans and analysts are calling for a wholesale re-evaluation of leadership: including head coach Mike Tomlin and coordinators such as Arthur Smith and Teryl Austin, because incremental fixes haven’t closed the gap with teams like Buffalo. Until Pittsburgh changes its approach to personnel, scheme, and development, 9-8 is always going to be the best they can do.
(photo courtesy of Steelers.com)