At Buffalo’s snow-covered Highmark Stadium, fans were forced to dig out their seats, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers lost their fifth straight postseason game after falling behind early in the game.
The wide receiver Khalil Shakir’s 17-yard touchdown reception that tricked multiple Steelers defenders and quarterback Josh Allen’s record-setting 52-yard rushing score were the highlights of the day for both the Buffalo Bills and the sportswriters covering them.The AFC Wild Card game was won 31-17 by the Bills.
Shakir, who almost got tackled by Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, attributed his ability to keep his balance to a weekly ball security drill.
After the game, he told the reporters, “He didn’t wrap up and… when you’re out there everything’s moving so fast you’re just reacting,” according to a video that WKBW released. “I watched the replay, and many of the guys we were cheering for were there. It was satisfying to score a touchdown and enter the end zone.” That ultimately boils down to Allen hitting the ball exactly where he wants to and allowing me to make a play.
Shakir’s catch-and-run was excellent since he outran Fitzpatrick, according to Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News.
Gaughan stated, “Fitzpatrick closed hard and fast, wrapping both arms around the Bills receiver.” Shakir, however, leaned forward and twirled away from the tackle.
According to Gaughan, the Steelers defense made a few of the other Bills touchdowns easy.
The longest rushing touchdown in Bills playoff history was Allen’s run. After the game, Allen related the story to the media, stating that he ran 15 to 20 yards before hearing his teammates call for him.
He stated, “There are a lot of guys screaming ‘Slide,'” in a video that WKBW had uploaded. “And I scored without slipping. That particular instance ended well.
According to WIVB sports director Josh Reed, one of the main reasons the Bills won the game was Allen’s performance and lack of turnovers.
He added, “The quarterback position was the biggest difference between the Bills and the Steelers.”
QB Mason Rudolph attempted a rally in the second half, but it was insufficient as the Steelers trailed 21-0 in the second quarter. Two turnovers that the Bills converted into points damaged the team.
Sportswriter John Wawrow of the Associated Press, who is stationed in Buffalo, stated that the Steelers had the third-fewest turnovers (16) in the NFL going into the game.
The snowfall turned into a nearly separate narrative from the game, which was postponed for 27½ hours following a storm that dumped three feet of snow on Highmark Stadium in New York. While workmen cleared the pitch, many people who had gathered at the stadium with more than 71,000 seats were left to fend for themselves.
Following the game, Allen addressed the reporters, saying, “The way our stadium was able to play today, the fans that came out and shoveled,… that speaks volumes about our community and how much support that we have from our fans.”
The supporters did not seem to mind; during touchdowns, they tossed snow into the air and cleared rows of seats with shovels, cardboard, and their hands.
WIBV’s Reed posted on social media, saying, “I’m impressed these fans found places to sit/stand.” “This seemed impossible an hour before the game, but Bills fans managed to pull it off.”
On social media, Jon Scott from Spectrum News 1 described the situation as a “real everyone for themselves scenario.”
