The best way to bounce back from a tough loss is by trouncing your next opponent, something the Pittsburgh Steelers know plenty about.
The Steelers will be looking to push their winning streak to two games and keep pace in the AFC North when they visit the suddenly surging Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
After getting taken out during Week 10 by the New England Patriots in a 39-26 home drubbing that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, Pittsburgh was scrambling for answers in a season that had such promise.
A defense that had allowed 17 points or less in each of its first five games had suddenly surrendered 20 or more in four straight.
The offense was not much better against the Patriots, finishing with 76 yards on the ground and putting only three points on the board through the first three quarters.
But as bad as they looked against New England in Week 10, the Steelers (7-3) looked just as good against the Oakland Raiders last weekend, earning the most lopsided win in the series’ 25-game history 35-3. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score while Pittsburgh totaled 162 yards on the ground.
Roethlisberger was roughed up after one touchdown, taking an open-handed punch to the facemask from Oakland defensive end Richard Seymour, but returned and did not appear to have any lingering issues.
Meanwhile, a defense that had been carved up by the Patriots held the Raiders to 182 total yards, with just 61 coming on the ground against a team that came in at the top of the NFL in rushing yardage.
The Bills will probably take it to the air in pursuit of points against Pittsburgh - and why not after the show that Ryan Fitzpatrick put on last weekend.
Buffalo (2-8) bounced back from a 31-14 halftime deficit to earn a 49-31 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, with Fitzpatrick going off for 316 yards and four scores.
Fitzpatrick found a reliable target in the second half, tossing three touchdown passes to Steve Johnson after the break. The 24-year-old Johnson entered the season with two touchdowns in two years in the NFL, but he has nine so far in 2010 and leads Buffalo with 52 catches and 728 yards.
Fred Jackson helped out against the Bengals as well, rushing for 116 yards and a pair of scores.
After dropping their first eight games of the season, the Bills have won their last two and might be one of the more dangerous 2-8 teams in recent memory due to their ability to put points on the board.
It looks like Buffalo will once again be without linebacker Shawne Merriman on Sunday. The former Pro Bowler has not seen the field since being claimed off waivers from the San Diego Chargers three weeks ago after re-injuring his troublesome Achilles’ tendon 10 minutes into his first practice with the Bills.