Bills vs. Steelers Preview: TV/Radio Schedule, Injuries, What to Watch For
By Brad Andrews
The Bills and Vikings will square off tonight (Saturday 8/25) at 7 p.m. Eastern. Here’s what to watch for:
TV/Radio: This game actually sold out, so you can watch it locally on Buffalo – WKBW(ABC), Rochester – WHAM(ABC), Syracuse – WTVH(CBS), and Binghamton – WBNG(CBS). Nationwide, you can watch on NFL Preseason Live via the internet. The Buffalo Bills Radio Network will also carry the game.
Playing Time for Starters: Expect the Buffalo starters to go about 30 plays. This will probably mean at least the first half and possibly into the third quarter.
#2 QB Battle: Vince Young will run with the second unit tonight, with Tyler Thigpen running the third team. Head coach Chan Gailey indicated that they want some more tape on Young. “Vince Young has performed well enough in the last two games to warrant more work,” Gailey said. “He’ll get the majority of the work with the twos this week. He’ll get most of the reps with the second group when they go in on Saturday night. We need to see how he can handle more game plan, more playing time, more everything. It’s not an indictment on Tyler (Thigpen) it’s just Vince has done some good things and we know where Tyler is. We’ve got to evaluate Vince more.”
Offesnsive Line Issues: Rookie Cordy Glenn is officially the starter at left tackle for the season. Starting RT Erik Pears is still hurt, so Chris Hairston will start on the right tonight. “They did some more tests on him and it was nothing major,” said Gailey of Pears. “So we’re going to hold him this week and let him get well and hopefully he’ll be back the next week.”
Eric Wood will play tonight, but likely not for the entire time the starters are in. Look for him to play around 20 snaps.
Injuries: OUT for the Bills tonight: Pears and DE Mark Anderson. Both are expected to be ready for the regular season. CBs Terrence McGee and Justin Rogers are expected to play tonight for the first time this preseason.
About the Steelers: The Steelers have played a pair of tight games this preseason, losing to the Eagles 24-23 and beating the Colts 26-24. The Steelers will be without several regulars for tonight, including WR Mike Wallace, LB James Harrison, RB Rashard Mendenhall, and NT Casey Hampton.
Weirdly, The Steelers made a coaching change Thursday, firing special teams coach Al Everest. Assistant special teams coach Amos Jones will replace him.