Steelers Daily Links: Bills Thrash Champs; Steelers Long SB Odds

The NFL is back, and the Buffalo Bills dominated the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night to open the 2022 season with a 31-10 win, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half while forcing Matt Stafford to throw three interceptions.

The Bills looked the part of Super Bowl contenders. The Steelers will find out first-hand when they travel to Buffalo on Oct. 9.

Steelers Injury Updates: Right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor missed practice on Thursday with a back injury, but the team is optimistic about wide receiver Diontae Johnson being able to play.

The Other Guys: Alan Saunders profiled the Pittsburgh Steelers players that wore No. 32 before Franco Harris, including a track coach, a steelworker and player that only ever played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

SN Debate: Alan Saunders and Cale Berger squared off about whether or not the Steelers should trade third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Scout team tight end Justin Rigg is giving the Steelers defense an expert look at Cincinnati Bengals tight end Hayden Hurst this week, after serving as Hurst’s teammate through most of this offseason.

Can the Steelers defense slow down Joe Mixon, and then the Bengals offense? Nick Farabaugh breaks it down for SN+ subscribers.

With the start of the regular season, the Steelers Super Bowl odds have continued to tumble. The Steelers went off at 80/1 to start the season, down from 66/1 on March 28 and 33/1 on March 8. Odds courtesy BetOnline.ag.

According to CBS Sports, T.J. Watt has the third most sacks (72) in his first five seasons (since sacks became a stat in 1982). Only Watt’s brother J.J. (74.5) and Reggie White (81.0) have recorded more in their first five seasons.

 According to Pro Football Focus, Diontae Johnson had just a 3.6% drop rate in 2021, which was better than Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, Mike Evans and many other receivers. Johnson had 107 receptions on 166 targets and six dropped passes last season.

 Actor Billy Gardell, who’s a Pittsburgh native, gave high praise to Mitch Trubisky on The Rich Eisen Show.

 Ahkello Witherspoon allowed a 48.0 passer rating in coverage last season, which was the fourth lowest among all corners with at least 200 coverage snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

 Adam Schein of NFL.com thinks Mike Tomlin’s non-losing season streak will continue, as he projects at least nine wins for the Steelers in 2022.

AROUND THE AFC NORTH

 Cincinnati Bengals strong safety Vonn Bell said don’t sleep on Mitch Trubisky in the post Big Ben era of the Steelers.

 Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo also touched on facing the Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger no longer under center. “We’re going under the assumption it’s going to be different, obviously, but a lot if their same stuff keeps showing up,” Anarumo said.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

 The Steelers are back on the practice field at 10:30 a.m. — Alan Saunders, Nick Farabaugh

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