Bills DT Blasts Broderick Jones, Steelers after Playoff Win

Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver put the Steelers and rookie right tackle Broderick Jones on blast following Buffalo’s 31-17 win over Pittsburgh in the Wild Card Game on Monday at Highmark Stadium. Oliver didn’t appreciate the fact that the Steelers and Jones thought they were going to run down the Bills’ throats, especially if they played on Sunday in the blizzard.

“I heard they wanted to play yesterday in the blizzard because they thought they could run the ball. Then we give them even better conditions, and they still can’t run the ball,” Oliver told Tim Graham of The Athletic.

“Then you got a rookie tackle, talking about how he thinks he can dominate up front. OK,” Oliver added, along with noting that Greg Rousseau beat Jones for a sack in the second quarter.

The Steelers rushed for 106 yards on 23 carries (4.6 average) and no touchdowns against the Bills. Najee Harris rushed for only 37 yards on 12 carries (3.1 average), while Jaylen Warren picked up 38 yards on eight carries (4.8 average). If it wasn’t for a 15-yard run by George Pickens, the Steelers would have finished with under 100 yards rushing in the game.

Playing in the blizzard would have favored the Steelers’ style of play, but it probably wouldn’t have really mattered. The Bills are just a better team from top to bottom.

The Steelers spotted the Bills a three-score lead with a disastrous first quarter. Mason Rudolph threw his first interception since taking over as the Steelers’ starter and George Pickens fumbled the ball. Between those turnovers and lackluster punts, it set the Bills up with two short fields in their first four possessions.

The Pittsburgh defense could do little to slow down Josh Allen and company, who were nearly perfect after spending much of the season allowing lesser opponents to hang around. Allen threw an NFL-high 18 interceptions in 2023, but he took care of the football through blustery conditions on Monday evening, never allowing the Steelers to claw back into the game.