QB Pickett dismi ses Steelers being underdogs against Bills October 6 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) In preparing to make his first NFL career start, Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett understandably dismi ses the narrative of Pittsburgh having little chance of beating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.You guys and everyone else think were underdogs, Pickett said. But we dont.More notable, perhaps, is Von Miller isnt buying it, either.It doesnt matter what their record says. It doesnt matter who they have at quarterback, the Bills pa s rusher said. Im not coming into this game off guard or anything.Though many familiar faces remain from the Pittsburgh team Miller faced only a year ago in a 27-19 lo s while he was with Denver, some significant changes have occurred. The most notable is at quarterback following Ben Roethlisbergers retirement, and Pickett getting his chance to show why the Steelers considered the University of Pittsburgh product as the heir-apparent in drafting him at No. 20. after replacing Mitch Trubisky in the second half Tennessee Titans Sleepwear Underwear of a . Though Pickett rushed for two touchdowns to build a 20-10 lead, the 24-year-old also threw three interceptions, the second leading to the Jets scoring the go-ahead points with 16 seconds remaining.Coach Mike Tomlin saw enough of what he called spark from Pickett to make the change.Were full steam ahead, Tomlin said. I dont spend a lot of time pondering decisions not made, and looking in the rearview.That might be the best approach, given how the Steelers have dropped three straight since a season-opening 23-20 overtime win against Cincinnati. The three-game skid and 1-3 start is exactly where Pittsburgh was through its first four games last season, with the lone win coming in the season opener at Buffalo. Tomlin has no interest in drawing comparisons, even positive ones after the Steelers responded to make the playoffs with a 9-7-1 finish.I dont seek comfort in that experience, Tomlin said. Were dealing with our i sue here in present day 2022.The i sues are aplenty, and the Steelers could be 0-4 if not for Evan McPhersons mi sed extra-point attempt for Cincinnati with 2 seconds left in regulation. Picketts two TDs are already tied with running back Najee Harris for the team lead. The defense is having difficulty holding second- Julio Jones T Shirts half leads. And injuries are a factor, with last seasons NFL defensive player of the year T.J. Watt (pectoral) out indefinitely.The Bills (3-1) have injury concerns of their own, but are suddenly riding high after overcoming a 17-point deficit to pull out a last week. The victory came on the heels of Buffalo squandering a fourth-quarter lead in a 21-19 lo s at Miami, and finally showed the Bills capable of winning in the clutch. Buffalo had lost seven straight games that were decided by a seven points or le s.I think the character that was shown the last couple of weeks speaks a lot about the guys that we have in this locker room, quarterback Josh Allen said. ON THE RECEIVING ENDAfter nearly running out of healthy offensive linemen against Miami, Buffalo was down to three healthy receivers against Baltimore. Isaiah McKenzie landed in the NFLs concu sion protocol, fellow slot receiver Jamison Crowder broke his ankle and Jake Kumerow was sidelined by an ankle injury.Rookie Khalil Shakir filled in to make his first two career catches, while running back Jamal Carter Jersey Devin Singletary finished second on the team with 47 yards receiving on four catches.McKenzies status is uncertain for this week. Kumerow is unlikely to play, and Crowder is out.LOW WATT-AGEThe Steelers are 0-3 without Watt this season, and 0-7 overall when he mi ses a game. After creating seven sacks and five turnovers against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh has generated just three sacks and three takeaways. We can waste all day sitting around talking about the impact of him not being available, Tomlin said. Wed better spend our time talking about the guys that are available to us and how we divide that labor up in the best effort to minimize those opponents that were preparing for.WIDE OPEN?Pittsburghs wide receiver group was supposed to be one of the NFL’s deepest. Things havent exactly panned out during the opening month. The Steelers have just two touchdown pa ses so far and they are the only team in the NFL whose wide receivers have yet to score. Pittsburgh ranks 30th in the league in yards per attempt (6.0). Rookie George Pickens saw a significant uptick in targets under Pickett in finishing with six receptions for 102 yards. While Pickens is surging, Diontae Johnson and third-year veteran Chase Claypool are sliding. Johnson caught just two pa ses for 11 yards against New York and had a throw from Trubisky smack off his hands for an interception.PRACTICING HURTWith the Bills injury report listing 16 players, coach Sean McDermott said hes close to running out of bodies to hold a full practice. Were hanging right on the edge, he said. Injuries and a short week following a Monday night win over Tucker McCann Jersey Tenne see led to McDermott cutting back his practice schedule to two days before Buffalos lo s to Miami in Week 3.___AP Sports Writer Will Graves contributed.___More AP NFL: hub/nfl and AP_NFL in this topic Pittsburgh Steelers Buffalo Bills National Football League Diontae Johnson Devin Singletary Jamison Crowder Chase Claypool T.J. Watt Evan McPherson Isaiah McKenzie Buffalo Bills Pittsburgh Steelers Spain or Morocco? 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