Final score, recap, highlights: Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Buffalo Bills 16

by 24USATVSept. 13, 2021, 2 a.m. 58
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The Buffalo Bills will have a full stadium of fans for the first time in 619 days as they open the season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Isaiah McKenzie is the Bills' new full-time returned and got off to a fast start, taking the opening kickoff 75 yards to the Steelers' 24-yard line. Buffalo went three-and-out and Tyler Bass made a 37-yard field goal. Buffalo 3, Pittsburgh 0

Pittsburgh began its first possession at its 25-yard line and picked up one first down on a 14-yard completion from Ben Roethlisberger to Diontae Johnson before punting to the Bills' 12.

Running back Devin Singletary plowed ahead for 8 yards and picked up Buffalo's first first down on a short run. The Bills were pushed back on a holding call against Dion Dawkins but the Bills chipped away as quarterback Josh Allen completed three passes, with tight end Dawson Knox diving for the sticks to convert a third-and-9. Allen found newly-acquired wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders for 16 yards before Mitch Morse was flagged for holding. Allen took a deep shot on second-and-14 but overthrew Sanders near the end zone. Matt Haack punted into the end zone.

Pittsburgh went three-and-out and nearly turned the ball over. On third-and-4, Buffalo defense end got a strip sack on Roethlisberger. Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor pounced on it and wide receiver Chase Claypool was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play. Pressley Harvin punted and the Bills' took over at their 37-yard line.

Buffalo went three-and-out after a flea-flicker was broken up on third down. Haack punted and former Bill Ray-Ray McCloud returned it 5 yards to the Steelers' 13.

Roethlisberger connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster for 6 yards, rookie running back Najee Harris rushed for 2 yards and Smith-Schuster made a reception for 12 yards and a first down.

Allen threw a strike to Sanders for 14 yards and then ran to midfield for another first down. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs made an 8-yard catch but Allen underthrew wide receiver Cole Beasley on a third-down screen pass, forcing a Bills' punt. Haack dropped a punt at the Steelers' 7-yard line.

Pittsburgh retreated after a false start penalty on third down and Harvin punted from his own end zone just 30 yards to the Bills' 35.

The Bills turned it over. AFC Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt chased down Allen for a sack. Allen coughed up the ball and it was recovered by Cameron Heyward at the Steelers' 45-yard line.

Pittsburgh couldn't do anything with its best field position of the game, and punted for the fifth straight time.

Allen threw a dart to Knox for 12 yards and a first down. Dion Dawkins committed a holding penalty, his second of the game, but Buffalo chipped away after first-and-20. Allen completed to Beasley for 10 yards, Singletary for 5 and then Allen threw a laser to Gabriel Davis for 37 yards to the Steelers' 36. Allen completed to Diggs for 11 yards and Allen ran for 3 yards to set up first-and-goal. Buffalo capped the 13-play drive with a 3-yard TD pass from Allen to Davis.

The Steelers had 54 yards of offense in the first half.

Pittsburgh started the half with runs of 9 and 2 yards by Harris for a first down. Cornerback Tre'Davious White picked off Roethlisberger but White was called for holding prior to the pick. Johnson returned from an injury for a 6-yard catch, Eric Ebron hauled in a 19-yard catch and Claypool went over White for a 22-yard reception. The Bills' defense held after the Steelers had first-and-10 at the 12 and Chris Boswell made a 24-yard field goal. Buffalo 10, Pittsburgh 3

Allen hit Diggs for 7 and 9 yards for a fist down and Singletary ran for 3 yards and a first down to cross into Steelers' territory. Running back Matt Breida took his first carry with the Bills 7 yards and Allen run up the middle and took a hit for a first down at the 37. Buffalo went for it on third-and-8 from the 35, with Allen throwing incomplete for Davis.

Roethlisberger completed to Claypool for 9 yards and Harris dove forward for a short run and first down. Rookie Pat Freiermuth held onto a pass over the middle for 24 yards. Claypool turn an end-around 25 yards to the Bills' 4. Harris lost 2 yards and Roethlisberger threw incomplete to Ebron. Harris caught a short pass but was stopped two yards shy of the goal line. Boswell made a 20-yard field goal. Buffalo 10, Pittsburgh 6

Buffalo turned it over on downs for the second time. Buffalo gained two first downs to reach midfield and Allen hit Diggs for 7 yards on first down. Breida rushed for 2 yards to set up third-and-1 but Breida lost 7 yards.

Pittsburgh appeared to go three-and-out but Levi Wallace was called for pass interference on Claypool for a 26-yard penalty. Harris ripped off an 18-yard run on the next play. Johnson made an incredible bobbling touchdown catch in the left corner of the end zone to give the Steelers their first lead. Pittsburgh 13, Buffalo 10

Disaster struck for the Bills on special teams. Buffalo went three-and-out, with Heyward sacking Allen on third down. Pittsburgh blocked Haack's punt and Ulysees Gilbert scooped up the ball, taking it 9 yards for a touchdown. Pittsburgh 20, Buffalo 10

The Bills cut it to a one-possession game. Allen completed two short passes and Singletary had runs of 6, 15 and 25 yards to get into the red zone. Bass made a 25-yard field goal. Pittsburgh 20, Buffalo 13

Levi Wallace was called for holding and Smith-Schuster made a 24-yard catch to get into Bills' territory. Roethlisberger scrambled for 7 yards on first-and-15 and the Steelers converted a third-and-8 with a 14-yard catch by Claypool. Harris lost a yard on first down, Roethlisberger threw incomplete for Johnson on second down and James Washington completed to James Washington for no gain. Boswell made a 45-yard field goal with 2:42 remaining. Pittsburgh 23, Buffalo 13

McKenzie took the kickoff 26 yards to the Bills' 36-yard line. Allen had three incompletions before connecting with Sanders for 14 yards to reach the 50. Knox took a catch-and-run 13 yards for a first down. T.J. Watt sacked Allen for a loss of 6 yards and Sanders was called for a false start to make it second-and-20. Beasley had a 10-yard catch and Diggs went out of bounds after a 13-yard grab. Singletary ran for 5 yards and Pittsburgh was called for offsides with under a minute left. Buffalo faced first-and-20 with 49 seconds left and elected to send Bass out for a 42-yard field goal. Pittsburgh 23, Buffalo 16

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