The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, another game at home, and it is time to take a look at what some of the people who label themselves as “experts” think about the upcoming game.

Will Aaron Rodgers be back at quarterback, and will any of them lead the Steelers to a win?

Or will the Bills get back on track and have a huge win to keep pace in the AFC Playoff Picture?

There is a lot going on with this game, and the experts are certainly forecasting a close game, regardless of who they have leaving the week with a victory. When it comes to the odds for the game, the Steelers are currently getting 3.5 points with a total of 45.5, keep that in mind as you check out what the experts believe will take place.

Before going any further, understand there are two types of websites when it comes to expert picks. There are those who have all their experts just click a box, and those who have experts provide some reasoning behind their selection. An example of the former would be the panel at ESPN. There they have only 3 of the 11 NFL experts at ESPN like the Steelers to get their latest win at Acrisure Stadium this Sunday.

As for those experts who put more thought into their picks outside of just checking a box, the panel at Bleacher Report gave their predictions for how they see the Steelers game going, versus the spread:

Gagnon: Steelers (+3.5)

I have the Bills winning this, but by a field goal, so it’s all about that hook.

Buffalo has suffered road losses to Atlanta, Houston and Miami in the last seven weeks, and the Steelers put up a good fight in Chicago last week.

The Steelers have the defensive playmaking ability to take advantage of a sloppy-of-late Bills offense and keep this close.

Hanford: Bills (-3.5)

I run the risk of getting bit by another hook here, but I just can’t see a world where an angry and frustrated Bills team doesn’t come in and hang points on a bad Steelers defense.

Maybe the Steelers are able to pressure Josh Allen as Houston did last Thursday, but the Pittsburgh defense doesn’t have the speed, physicality or coaching that allow a duo like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter to put Allen on the ground repeatedly.

The Bills have their warts, but their receiving core is built for the quick game that has been Pittsburgh’s Achilles’ heel all year.

Even if Aaron Rodgers is back, I don’t see the firepower to attack Buffalo’s shaky defense. Bills by a touchdown.

Predictions

Bills: Davenport, Hanford, Knox, Moton, Sobleski

Steelers: Gagnon, O’Donnell

The experts on the Sports Illustrated staff also provided general picks for the upcoming AFC North game, and if you are someone who likes to see people pick against the Steelers, this would not be your bread-and-butter. The SI crew is all-in and heavily leaning on the road team when it comes to who they like on Sunday.

Clare Brennan: Bills
Mitch Goldich: Bills
Gilberto Manzano: Bills
Conor Orr: Bills
John Pluym: Bills
Matt Verderame: Bills

Pete Prisco of CBS Sports has picked the Steelers to beat most of their opponents to date in 2025. However, it was Prisco’s Week 12 game where he correctly picked the Steelers losing to the Bears on the road. What does he think about Week 13 AFC game?

“This is a have-to for both these teams. Both are coming off road losses. The Steelers might have Aaron Rodgers back in this one, which they need. The Bills will have extra rest after playing last Thursday. That will give them time to get back on track. I think the Bills passing game will light up the Steelers pass defense. Bills take it.”

Pick: Bills 31, Steelers 22

At NFL.com, 4 of 5 of the experts are all-in on the Bills in this Week 13 contest. While that might stun some reading this, one of their staff writers always gives an explanation as to why he is making the pick of the Bears this Sunday.

Ali – Bills 23-20
Brooke – Steelers 25-24
Dan – Bills 30-28
Gennaro – Bills 26-24
Tom – Bills 27-22

Why Brooke picked the Steelers: Pittsburgh’s back is against the wall after Baltimore leapfrogged it last week to claim the top spot in the division. The Steelers are optimistic Aaron Rodgers will return after missing last week with a left wrist injury. Rodgers has been efficient, but he is averaging fewer than 200 pass yards per game, which would be his lowest mark over a season as a starter. The Steelers have a lot of questions offensively, but they could lean on their ground attack for the second straight week, especially with the Bills allowing the third-most rush yards per game (148.9) and second-most yards per carry (5.3) this season. After all, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell nearly ran Pittsburgh to victory last week with Mason Rudolph in at QB. Conversely, the Bills should feel pretty good about facing a Steelers defense that ranks in the bottom five in yards allowed and bottom half of the league in points allowed. What’s worrisome is the health of Bills tackles Spencer Brown (shoulder) and Dion Dawkins (concussion). So, too, is how Josh Allen has fared on the road in 2025. He has scored just seven offensive touchdowns in five road games (21 TDs in six home contests), while Buffalo has averaged nearly 10 fewer points per game on the road (23.2) than at Highmark Stadium (32.5). Plus, the Bills are 2-3 on the road (5-1 at home). The Terrible Towels make Pittsburgh a tough place to play, and that defense could quite easily turn the game on its head if T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith can regularly get into the backfield. I’m not sure I trust either one of these outfits at this moment, but I’ll take the home team in a close one.

What do you think will happen in the game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bills this Sunday in Week 13.