Buffalo Bills: 3 key matchups in Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Buffalo Bills Key Matchup #2: WR Diontae Johnson vs. CB Levi Wallace

In last year’s contest between these two teams, Johnson lost this matchup more than Wallace won it.

Johnson, who is one of the most electric wide receivers in the NFL, struggled mightily with catching the ball in 2020. His 13 drops led the entire league and his case of the yips was on full display in Week 14. Against the Bills, Johnson recorded two brutal drops within the first five minutes of the game.

Despite being targeted often in the early going and seeing seven targets in the contest, Johnson was benched for multiple series and only played 28 snaps.

While the third-year wide receiver’s struggles were the main story, Wallace did have himself a strong outing, though, compiling three passes defended and one interception.

Wallace will likely be pinned against Johnson on Sunday, and this will probably be a tougher task the second time around. Assuming Johnson doesn’t literally and figuratively drop the ball, there’s a good chance Ben Roethlisberger will be looking his way frequently. Even in a season where he had to fight off injuries and drops, Johnson’s 144 targets last year led all Steelers wideouts and the shifty playmaker’s ability to get open will be a lot for Wallace to handle.

If the fourth-year Bills corner can’t contain Johnson, Pittsburgh’s offense will function much more efficiently than it did in last year’s matchup. If Wallace can limit Johnson, then Big Ben will be forced to look away from his top target.