Photos: Bills open season against Steelers
The Buffalo Bills take on the Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off the 2021 NFL season in Orchard Park.
Bad break
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Josh Allen fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second quarter.
Turning point
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Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew (28) blocks a punt attempt by Buffalo Bills punter Matt Haack (3) during the fourth quarter.
End zone strike
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (13) pulls in a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during the 2021 season-opening game.
Celebrating with fans
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (13) celebrates his touchdown with fans during the second quarter.
Upper deck
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The Buffalo Bills host the Pittsburgh Steelers for the season opener.
Trouble
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs into Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds and defensive end Tyson Alualu (94) during the second quarter.
Beasley bounces
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) finds extra yards against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush (55) during the second quarter.
VIP fan
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul watches the Bills season opener with David Anderson, CEO, Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of WNY.
Knox
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Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) pulls in a catch in front of Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the second quarter.
Twisted
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (13) proves tough to tackle for Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during the second quarter.
Rushing yards
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) weaves around Pittsburgh Steelers defenders during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Tracking down the ball
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) tracks down a Josh Allen pass under pressure from Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Diggs pulls it in
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) makes a catch against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden (23) during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Full house
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A full house is pumped up during the season opener at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Early fumble
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) fumbles the ball as he is sacked by Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Knoxed out
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Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) breaks a tackle attempt by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Tre Norwood (21) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Hard to tackle
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) has room after making Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Tre Norwood (21) miss a tackle during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Make me wanna shout
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Bills fans are pumped up before the game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Starting early
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (19) returns the opening kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Air ball
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Back to pass
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks for a receiver during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Singletary
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Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) is wrapped up by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas (93) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Bills Steelers first
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) finds room to run against Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Complete
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) pulls in a catch against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
On the run
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks downfield as he rushes with the ball against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Devin Bush (55) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
First down
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (1) celebrates a first down during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Nowhere to go
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Bills defensive tackle Justin Zimmer (61) is now an unrestricted free agent.
Super Mario
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Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Addison (97) knocks the ball out of the hands of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Airing it out
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) launches a pass over the Pittsburgh Steelers line during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Pittsburgh passer
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) fires a pass during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Coach
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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Battle of the backs
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes the ball during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Tomlin
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during the first quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Big play
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Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) celebrates his sack on Josh Allen to force a turnover during the second quarter Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Watch now: Bills defender Micah Hyde speaks after loss to Steelers
UpdatedWatch now: Bills' Jordan Poyer talks about loss to Steelers
UpdatedWatch now: Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks after loss to Steelers
UpdatedWatch now: Bills lineman Mitch Morse speaks after loss to Steelers
UpdatedWatch now: Bills RB Devin Singletary speaks after loss to Steelers
UpdatedWatch now: Bills head coach Sean McDermott discusses going for it on fourth down
UpdatedSack
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Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer (21) wraps up Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the second quarter.
Can't hang on to Claypool
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) makes a big catch against Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (39) during the third quarter.
Broken play
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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Tre Norwood (21) breaks up a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis (13) during the third quarter.
Brieda from the backfield
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Buffalo Bills running back Matt Breida (22) tries to cut around Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the third quarter.
Trouble in the secondary
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Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (39) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during the third quarter.
Roethlisberger fires
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) launches a pass during the third quarter.
Big catch
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) makes an acrobatic catch against Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) during the third quarter.
Hanging on
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) makes an acrobatic catch against Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) during the third quarter.
Johnson covers Johnson
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Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (24) tries to bring down Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during the third quarter.
QB keeper
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Bills quarterback Josh Allen evades a tackle attempt by Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the 2021 season-opening game.
Sideline focus
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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott on the sidelines during the third quarter.
Game changer
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ulysees Gilbert (54) scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter.
Pulling away
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) gashes the Bills defense during the fourth quarter.
Airborne
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Buffalo Bills running back Matt Breida (22) is upended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) during the fourth quarter.
Harris breaks out
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) finds yards against the Bills during the fourth quarter.
Unanswered points
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) catches a pass for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills defensive back Levi Wallace (39) during the fourth quarter.
Hard feelings
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A Bills fan can't bear to watch as the Pittsburgh Steelers pull ahead during the fourth quarter.
Singletary
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Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) rushes the ball against Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) during the fourth quarter.
Facing adversity
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) has his pass batted down at the line of scrimmage during the fourth quarter.
Reception
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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool (11) makes a big catch against Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (24) during the fourth quarter.
Going nowhere
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Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) wraps up Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) during the fourth quarter.
Flat tire
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) puts his shoe back on between plays during the fourth quarter.
Sad ending
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A disappointed Bills fan during the fourth quarter.
Motivated for next week
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs off the field after the Bills 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium.
As featured on
Gov. Kathy Hochul attends the Buffalo Bills home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on S…
Frustration boiled among those following the game on Twitter, venting about offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's fourth-down call and displaying shock that reality did not meet expectation.
The game's result had more to do with the Bills’ shortcomings on offense and questionable play-calling than anything Pittsburgh did.
