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

Buffalo Bills Key Matchup #3: DE Mario Addison vs. LT Dan Moore

This matchup could spell trouble for the Steelers all day long on Sunday.

Pittsburgh’s offensive line has four new starters on it this season, including a pair of rookies in third-round center Kendrick Green and fourth-round pick Moore. The latter of the two will be responsible for blocking Roethlisberger’s blindside. Moore will have his hands full in his first-ever NFL game as he battles Addison, an 11-year veteran who’s just one year removed from a 9.5-sack campaign.

So how did Pittsburgh end up in a situation where it’s starting a day-three pick at left tackle? Well, this offseason, six-year Steeler and two-time Pro-Bowler Alejandro Villanueva departed in free agency and inked a two-year deal with the divisional rival Baltimore Ravens, leaving a huge gap on the left side of the line that the team hopes Moore can fill. Needless to say, that’s quite a tall order for someone who hasn’t played a single snap in the NFL.

Addison’s experience could cause all sorts of problems for Moore, and he may not be the only one who capitalizes on this matchup. Second-year defensive end A.J. Epenesa figures to be rotated onto the line frequently, too, and the 2020 second-round pick could find himself disrupting Pittsburgh’s plans as well.

This could very well be the positional duel that gives Buffalo a major edge against Pittsburgh.