Final2021 Week 1

Highmark Stadium (Old), Orchard Park, NY

Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Week 1 2021

Pittsburgh Steelers

AwayWon

23

Buffalo Bills

Home

16

Scoring by quarter
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Steelers0061723
Bills370616

PIT 23BUF 16 Final

  • Passing leader

    Josh Allen

    BUF · QB

    17.2PPR pts

    30/51, 270 YDS, 1 TD

  • Top fantasy scorer

    Stefon Diggs

    BUF · WR

    15.9PPR pts

    9 REC, 69 YDS

  • Bills leader

    Cole Beasley

    BUF · WR

    14.0PPR pts

    8 REC, 60 YDS

  • Defensive playmaker

    Ulysees Gilbert

    PIT

    1 TD, 1 TKL

Steelers 23, Bills 16: Pittsburgh rallies from 10 down at halftime

Pittsburgh erased a 10–0 halftime deficit, outscoring Buffalo 23–6 after the break to win 23–16. Buffalo outgained the Steelers 371–252.

The Bills went 8-for-18 on third down and committed one turnover, while the Steelers finished without a giveaway.

Key advantages

  • +1 turnover margin PIT 0 turnovers

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Steelers Won

Pittsburgh won the turnover battle.

Team stats comparison, Steelers vs Bills
SteelersStatBills
0Turnovers1
Other team stats
252Total yards371
4.6Yards per play4.7
55Plays79
33%Third-down conversion44%
26:43Time of possession33:17

Scoring Summary

The Steelers scored two touchdowns and three field goals; the Bills scored one touchdown and three field goals.

Scoring plays, Steelers vs Bills
TimeTeamPlayPITBUF
1st quarter
13:30BUFTyler Bass 37-yard FG Takes lead03
2nd quarter
0:22BUFJosh Allen → Gabriel Davis, 3-yard TD Extends leadTyler Bass XP010
3rd quarter
10:23PITChris Boswell 24-yard FG310
1:47PITChris Boswell 20-yard FG610
4th quarter
11:19PITBen Roethlisberger → Diontae Johnson, 5-yard TD Game winnerChris Boswell XP1310
9:45PITUlysees Gilbert III 9-yard TD Extends leadChris Boswell XP2010
5:23BUFTyler Bass 25-yard FG2013
2:42PITChris Boswell 45-yard FG Extends lead2313
0:46BUFTyler Bass 42-yard FG2316

Fantasy Points: Steelers vs Bills, Week 1 2021

Fantasy leaders

  1. Stefon DiggsBUFWR15.9 PTSWR29
  2. Josh AllenBUFQB15.2 PTSQB21
  3. Diontae JohnsonPITWR14.6 PTSWR34
  4. Cole BeasleyBUFWR14.0 PTSWR37

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
PlayerFPTSFINCMP/ATTPass YDSTDINTRush ATTRush YDSRush TDRateStart/Sit
Josh AllenBUFQB15.2QB2130/5127010944079.7Start/Sit →
Ben RoethlisbergerPITQB11.0QB2818/321881045083.9

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
PlayerFPTSFINPOSRush ATTRush YDSRush TDTGTRECRec YDSRec TDStart/Sit
Stefon DiggsBUFWR15.9WR29WR———139690Start/Sit →
Diontae JohnsonPITWR14.6WR34WR———105361
Cole BeasleyBUFWR14.0WR37WR———138600
Gabe DavisBUFWR12.0WR50WR———52401
Chase ClaypoolPITWR10.0WR61WR125053450
Emmanuel SandersBUFWR9.2WR64WR———84520
JuJu Smith-SchusterPITWR9.2WR65WR———84520
Devin SingletaryBUFRB9.0RB33RB117205380Start/Sit →
Dawson KnoxBUFTE8.1TE21TE———44410Start/Sit →
Najee HarrisPITRB5.9RB45RB164503140Start/Sit →
Pat FreiermuthPITTE3.4TE37TE———11240Start/Sit →
James WashingtonPITWR3.0WR99WR———22100
Eric EbronPITTE2.9TE39TE———21190
Zach GentryPITTE0.8TE51TE———11-20
Matt BreidaBUFRB0.4RB75RB440————
Isaiah McKenzieBUFWR-0.3—WR1-30————

Fantasy Usage

Pittsburgh Steelers

Snap Share

  1. Najee HarrisRB58 snaps100%
  2. JuJu Smith-SchusterWR53 snaps91%
  3. Diontae JohnsonWR44 snaps76%
  4. Chase ClaypoolWR39 snaps67%
  5. Pat FreiermuthTE29 snaps50%

Target Share32 targets

  1. Diontae Johnson31%, 10 targets
  2. JuJu Smith-Schuster25%, 8 targets
  3. Chase Claypool16%, 5 targets
  4. Najee Harris9%, 3 targets
  5. Eric Ebron6%, 2 targets
  6. Other13%, 4 targets

Carry Share21 carries

  1. Najee Harris76%, 16 carries
  2. Ben Roethlisberger19%, 4 carries
  3. Chase Claypool5%, 1 carries

Buffalo Bills

Snap Share

  1. Emmanuel SandersWR79 snaps93%
  2. Stefon DiggsWR79 snaps93%
  3. Cole BeasleyWR77 snaps91%
  4. Devin SingletaryRB64 snaps75%
  5. Dawson KnoxTE48 snaps56%

Target Share48 targets

  1. Cole Beasley27%, 13 targets
  2. Stefon Diggs27%, 13 targets
  3. Emmanuel Sanders17%, 8 targets
  4. Devin Singletary10%, 5 targets
  5. Gabe Davis10%, 5 targets
  6. Other8%, 4 targets

Carry Share25 carries

  1. Devin Singletary44%, 11 carries
  2. Josh Allen36%, 9 carries
  3. Matt Breida16%, 4 carries
  4. Isaiah McKenzie4%, 1 carries
View full usage tableHide full usage table
Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
PlayerSNAPSSNAP %TGTTGT %CAR
Najee HarrisPITRB58100%39%16
Emmanuel SandersBUFWR7993%817%0
Stefon DiggsBUFWR7993%1327%0
JuJu Smith-SchusterPITWR5391%825%0
Cole BeasleyBUFWR7791%1327%0
Diontae JohnsonPITWR4476%1031%0
Devin SingletaryBUFRB6475%510%11
Chase ClaypoolPITWR3967%516%1
Dawson KnoxBUFTE4856%48%0
Gabe DavisBUFWR4351%510%0
Pat FreiermuthPITTE2950%13%0
Eric EbronPITTE2747%26%0
Zach GentryPITTE1628%13%0
James WashingtonPITWR1526%26%0
Isaiah McKenzieBUFWR1518%00%1
Matt BreidaBUFRB1012%00%4
Ray-Ray McCloudPITWR35%00%0
Jake KumerowBUFWR34%00%0
Tommy SweeneyBUFTE22%00%0
Reggie GilliamBUFRB22%00%0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

  • Biggest overperformer+3.6Gabe Davis12.0 PTS vs 8.4 xFP
  • Biggest underperformer−11.0Josh Allen17.2 PTS vs 28.2 xFP
  • Highest expected volume28.2 xFPJosh Allen17.2 PTS scored
Usage and expected fantasy points
PlayerPTSxFPvs xFPSnap%UsageRte%Pass attCarCar%TgtTgt%
Josh AllenBUF · QB17.228.2−11.0100%51 att—51936%00%
Cole BeasleyBUF · WR14.021.9−7.991%27% tgt—000%1327%
Stefon DiggsBUF · WR15.921.9−6.093%27% tgt—000%1327%
Diontae JohnsonPIT · WR14.616.8−2.276%31% tgt—000%1031%
Ben RoethlisbergerPIT · QB12.016.6−4.6100%32 att—32419%00%
Devin SingletaryBUF · RB11.015.5−4.575%44% car—01144%510%
Najee HarrisPIT · RB5.915.3−9.4100%76% car—01676%39%
Emmanuel SandersBUF · WR9.213.5−4.393%17% tgt—000%817%
JuJu Smith-SchusterPIT · WR9.213.5−4.391%25% tgt—000%825%
Chase ClaypoolPIT · WR10.09.1+0.967%16% tgt—015%516%
Gabe DavisBUF · WR12.08.4+3.651%10% tgt—000%510%
Dawson KnoxBUF · TE8.16.7+1.456%8% tgt—000%48%
Eric EbronPIT · TE2.93.4−0.547%6% tgt—000%26%
James WashingtonPIT · WR3.03.4−0.426%6% tgt—000%26%
Matt BreidaBUF · RB0.42.6−2.212%16% car—0416%00%
Pat FreiermuthPIT · TE3.41.7+1.750%3% tgt—000%13%
Zach GentryPIT · TE0.81.7−0.928%3% tgt—000%13%
Isaiah McKenzieBUF · WR-0.30.6−0.918%4% car—014%00%

Team totals: Steelers 32 targets and 21 carries; Bills 48 targets and 25 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Ben Roethlisberger

PIT · QB · 12.0 pts on 16.6 expected

18 of 32 passing for 188 yards, 1 touchdown; 4 carries for 5 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 16.6 expected.

Josh Allen Unlucky

BUF · QB · 17.2 pts on 28.2 expected

30 of 51 passing for 270 yards, 1 touchdown; 9 carries for 44 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 28.2 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Josh Allen →

Diontae Johnson Volume, no payoff

PIT · WR · 14.6 pts on 16.8 expected

10 targets (31% of the team's), 5 catches for 36 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 16.8 expected.

Najee Harris Volume, no payoff

PIT · RB · 5.9 pts on 15.3 expected

3 targets (9% of the team's), 1 catch for 4 yards; 16 carries (76% of the team's) for 45 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 15.3 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Najee Harris →

Cole Beasley Unlucky

BUF · WR · 14.0 pts on 21.9 expected

13 targets (27% of the team's), 8 catches for 60 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 21.9 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Stefon Diggs Unlucky

BUF · WR · 15.9 pts on 21.9 expected

13 targets (27% of the team's), 9 catches for 69 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 21.9 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Start/Sit: Stefon Diggs →

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Steelers defense and Bills defense
Points allowed toSteelers DBills D
QBs17.112.2
RBs25.620.4
WRs30.823.8
TEs10.87.6

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Buffalo opened at 68% win probability, climbed as high as 93%, then lost.

Bills win probability

Bills win probability by game minuteBills started at 68%, stood at 92% at halftime and finished at 0%, across 9 scoring plays.Q1Q2Q3Q4100%50%0%

Key Swings

  1. +8Bass 37-yd FG68% → 76%Q1 13:30
  2. +17Allen → Davis, 3-yd TD74% → 92%Q2 0:22
  3. −10Boswell 20-yd FG89% → 79%Q3 1:47
  4. −43Roethlisberger → Johnson, 5-yd TD81% → 38%Q4 11:19
  5. −31Gilbert 9-yd TD36% → 5%Q4 9:45

Swing in Bills win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Steelers vs Bills
Pittsburgh SteelersMeasureBuffalo Bills
55Plays79
62%Pass rate68%
5.2Yds / dropback4.7
3.6Yds / carry4.7
4/12Third downs8/18

Efficiency edge Pittsburgh ran 24 fewer plays but gained 0.5 more yards per dropback.

  • Top targets
  • PIT Johnson 31% · Smith-Schuster 25% · Claypool 16%
  • BUF Beasley 27% · Diggs 27% · Sanders 17%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Steelers vs Bills
ResultPITBUF
Touchdowns11
Field goals33
Punts54
Turnovers01
Turnovers on downs02

PIT turnover edge: +1

  • The Bills opened the scoring on their first possession, a 4-play, 5-yard drive that ended in a field goal.
  • The Steelers drained the clock with two second-half drives of four to five minutes.
All 22 possessions, drive by drive
Drive chart
TeamStartPlaysYardsTimeResult
BUFQ1 15:00451:30Field goal
PITQ1 13:305222:55Punt
BUFQ1 10:3510335:30Punt
PITQ1 5:053-71:15Punt
BUFQ1 3:50391:09Punt
PITQ1 2:416253:40Punt
BUFQ2 14:017343:03Punt
PITQ2 10:583-21:26Punt
BUFQ2 9:323-80:54Fumble
PITQ2 8:38402:37Punt
BUFQ2 6:0113915:39Touchdown
PITQ2 0:221-10:22End of half
PITQ3 15:0010694:37Field goal
BUFQ3 10:2312404:35Downs
PITQ3 5:4811624:01Field goal
BUFQ3 1:478273:05Downs
PITQ4 13:424522:23Touchdown
BUFQ4 11:193-21:34Punt
BUFQ4 9:459674:22Field goal
PITQ4 5:239482:41Field goal
BUFQ4 2:4210401:56Field goal
PITQ4 0:462-20:46End of game
About these numbers

The Steelers' return touchdown is counted as a Bills possession, not as a Steelers possession. Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Steelers vs Bills Head-to-Head

The Steelers and Bills first met in 1970 and have played 31 times since.

All-time series
17–14Steelers lead, 31 meetings since 1970
Postseason
2–2Split 2–2
Largest Steelers win
28–01979
Largest Bills win
38–32022

Since 2021

3–1 Bills lead

4 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. B = Bills win, S = Steelers win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Steelers vs Bills
SteelersStatBills
9-7-1Record11-6
20.2Points per game28.4
315.4Yards per game381.9
4.8Yards per play5.7
23.4Points allowed per game17.0
361.1Yards allowed per game272.8

Steelers vs Bills Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread
BUF −6.5Bills failed to cover by 13.5
Total
48Under: 39 points scored (by 9)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
TeamImpliedActualDifference
Bills27.316−11.3
Steelers20.823+2.3

The Steelers beat their implied total and the Bills fell short of theirs; the Fantasy tab has the player lines behind it.

Betting Trends

Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Against the spread
1–0
Over/under
0–1
ATS as underdog
1–0
ATS on the road
1–0

Buffalo Bills

Against the spread
0–1
Over/under
0–1
ATS as favorite
0–1
ATS at home
0–1

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Betting availability depends on your state.

Steelers and Bills in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Steeler or a Bill, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Steelers vs Bills Game FAQ

Who won the 2021 Steelers vs Bills Week 1 game?

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Buffalo Bills 23–16 in Week 1 of the 2021 season. The game was played at Highmark Stadium (Old) in Orchard Park, NY, on September 12, 2021. See the Steelers' 2021 schedule.

What was the final score of Steelers vs Bills?

The final score was Steelers 23, Bills 16. The Bills led 10–0 at halftime, and the second half went Steelers 23, Bills 6.

What happened in the Steelers vs Bills game?

Pittsburgh erased a 10–0 halftime deficit, outscoring Buffalo 23–6 after the break to win 23–16. Buffalo outgained the Steelers 371–252. Stefon Diggs led all players with 9 catches for 69 yards. The Bills committed 1 turnover, the Steelers none.

What was the game-winning score in Steelers vs Bills?

Ben Roethlisberger's 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson with 11:19 left in the fourth quarter gave the Steelers a 13–10 lead they never gave up.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Steelers vs Bills?

Stefon Diggs led the game with 15.9 PPR fantasy points, the WR29 of Week 1, on 9 catches for 69 yards. Josh Allen was next with 15.2 (QB21). See Stefon Diggs's 2021 game log.

Who led Steelers vs Bills in passing, rushing and receiving?

Josh Allen (BUF) led all passers with 30 of 51 for 270 yards and a touchdown. Devin Singletary (BUF) led in rushing with 11 carries for 72 yards. Stefon Diggs (BUF) led in receiving with 9 catches for 69 yards.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Steelers vs Bills?

Gabe Davis outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 12.0 PPR points on 8.4 xFP (+3.6). Josh Allen fell furthest short, with 17.2 points on 28.2 xFP (−11.0). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

How did the Steelers come back to beat the Bills?

The Steelers' chances of winning fell as low as 7% in the third quarter. Ben Roethlisberger's 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson in the fourth quarter was the biggest swing of the game. Ben Roethlisberger's 5-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson then put them ahead for good.

Which team won the turnover battle in Steelers vs Bills?

The Steelers won the turnover battle 1–0: the Bills gave the ball away 1 time and the Steelers not at all. The Steelers won the game.

What is the all-time Steelers vs Bills record?

The Steelers lead the all-time series 17–14 across 31 meetings since 1970, including a 2–2 record in the postseason.

When did the Steelers and Bills last play before this game?

Before Week 1 of 2021, they last met in the 2020 season on December 13, 2020, when the Bills beat the Steelers 26–15.

Have the Steelers and Bills met in the playoffs?

Yes, 4 times, most recently in the 2023 playoffs. The Steelers are 2–2 against the Bills in the postseason.

What was the closing spread for Steelers vs Bills?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Bills −6.5, making the Buffalo Bills 6.5-point favorites, with a closing total of 48. That implied about 27.3 points for the Bills and 20.8 for the Steelers.

Did Steelers vs Bills go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 48, and the teams combined for 39 points, 9 under the number.

Who covered the spread in Steelers vs Bills?

The Steelers covered as 6.5-point underdogs against the closing line of Bills −6.5. The final margin was 7 points.