Stats Perform's NFL Friday Facts: Steelers target title in Week 14 Bills battle
Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers (11-1) could win the AFC North division title if they see off the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns are beaten by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
The Steelers are on the brink of securing a playoff berth and Buffalo (9-3) can join them in the postseason if they win a mouth-watering Sunday tussle and other results go their way.
Defending Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs, who along with the New Orleans Saints are the only teams to be assured of a playoff place, travel to face the Miami Dolphins knowing at least a tie will wrap up the AFC West title.
With the use of Stats Perform data, we preview matches including a New Orleans (10-2) side preparing to take on a Philadelphia Eagles team with Jalen Hurts starting at quarterback after Carson Wentz was benched.
FEATURED GAME
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - Sunday, 8.20pm (all times Eastern)
- The Steelers have won 10 of the last 12 games between these teams, but the Bills claimed a 17-10 win in Week 15 last season - their first success over Pittsburgh since 1999.
- Pittsburgh's quest for a perfect season ended with a 23-17 loss at home against Washington on Monday. The Steelers have now scored fewer than 20 points in consecutive weeks after racking up at least 24 in each of their first 10 games. They have not done so in three straight started by Ben Roethlisberger since Weeks 6-8 in 2013.
- The Bills beat the 49ers 34-24 on the road on Monday, the sixth time this season they scored at least 30 points. That is already tied for their most in a full season since they had seven such games in 2004. The franchise record is nine 30-point games.
- Anthony McFarland Jr. was Pittsburgh's leading rusher against Washington with 15 yards, and the team only had 21 total rushing yards. It was their fewest since they had 19 against Baltimore in Week 4, 2018, and just the seventh time since 1950 they have had 21 or fewer (1-6 in those games).
OTHER KEY GAMES
Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins - Sunday 1pm
- The Chiefs, on a seven-game winning streak, have five victories this season by double-digit margins, but their last four games have been close. Each has been decided by six points or fewer and in three of them, Kansas City overcame half-time deficits to stay on a roll.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns - Monday 8.15pm
- The Ravens have taken eight of the last 10 meetings against the Browns, including a 38-6 victory in Baltimore in Week 1 this season. The Ravens are also 10-2 in their last 12 trips to Cleveland, most recently claiming a 31-15 success in Week 16 last season.
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles - Sunday 4.25pm
- Hurts will make his first career start in this game. He came on in relief of Wentz in the loss to the Green Bay Packers, going 5-for-12 for 109 yards, and also threw his first career touchdown and interception.
Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sunday 1pm
- The Buccaneers dropped their last two games prior to their bye last week, both by a score of 27-24. They allowed a season-high 543 yards in their Week 12 loss to the Chiefs, the most they have allowed in a regulation (non-overtime) home game in the last 35 years.
ELSEWHERE...
Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants - Sunday 1pm
- The Cardinals conceded more points than they had in any other game in a 38-28 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week. Arizona are averaging 281.3 yards of offense during their three-match losing streak, a figure which ranks 30th in the NFL since Week 11 after leading through Week 10 with 425.4 yards per game.
Indianapolis Colts at Las Vegas Raiders - Sunday 4.05pm
- Philip Rivers will be making his 29th start against the Raiders, breaking a tie with John Elway for the most of all time. Rivers has the most QB wins (18), completions (584), passing yards (7103) and touchdown passes (47) against the Raiders by any player.