PITTSBURGH — The Buffalo Bills surged out of halftime to overcome a sluggish start, securing a decisive 26-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. After heading into the locker room down 7-3, the Bills quickly flipped the script with a series of explosive plays.

The turning point came just moments into the third quarter when linebacker Joey Bosa sacked Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The play resulted in a fumble, which cornerback Christian Benford promptly returned 17 yards for a touchdown, marking the Bills’ first lead and setting the tone for the remainder of the game.

Buffalo’s ground game proved dominant, amassing a franchise-record 249 rushing yards at what is now known as Acrisure Stadium. The overwhelming performance infuriated the home crowd, who voiced their displeasure with chants for the firing of head coach Mike Tomlin. Many fans reacted negatively as classic pump-up music echoed through the stadium, reflecting the team’s struggles, having lost five of their last seven matches.

Rodgers, who was nursing injuries from previous weeks, briefly exited after the hit by Bosa. Despite returning to the field, his performance was underwhelming. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 117 yards, raising concerns about his health and effectiveness as the season progresses.

With the loss, the Steelers fell to 6-6 ahead of a crucial matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who also sit at 6-6 after their recent game. As the AFC North continues to tighten, the upcoming game is critical for playoff positioning. The Steelers also face injury concerns, with edge rusher T.J. Watt limping off late in the game, joining linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback James Pierre on the injury report.

On the offensive side for the Bills, running back James Cook led the charge with an impressive 144 yards on 32 carries. Ray Davis added depth to the rushing attack with nine carries for 62 yards. Quarterback Josh Allen recorded the 76th rushing touchdown of his career, extending his record for signal-callers as he prepares to face the Cincinnati Bengals at home next week.

The Bills aim to build on this momentum, while the Steelers must regroup to stay competitive in a tightly contested division. As both teams gear up for critical matchups, the implications of Sunday’s game will resonate throughout the remainder of the season.