What channel is Steelers vs Bills on today? How to watch Pittsburgh vs Buffalo in Week 1
The 2021 NFL season gets underway on Sunday with a high-profile AFC matchup as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
The game marks the season opener for both teams and a measuring-stick moment early in the AFC race, following playoff campaigns that ended very differently a year ago.
What channel is Steelers vs Bills on?
The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
- TV channel (national): CBS
- TV channel (Pittsburgh): WPXI
- TV channel (Buffalo): WGRZ
- Kickoff time: 1 p.m. ET
- Date: Sunday, September 12, 2021
Fans looking to stream the game can do so via CBS-supported live streaming services, including fuboTV, subject to regional availability.
Why this matchup matters
Buffalo enters the season as one of the AFC’s consensus contenders after finishing 13–3 in 2020 and reaching the AFC Championship Game, where the Bills fell to the Kansas City Chiefs. It was their deepest playoff run in decades and cemented expectations that they would again challenge for the conference.
Pittsburgh’s 12–4 regular season ended more abruptly. The Steelers were eliminated at home in the Wild Card round by the Cleveland Browns, raising questions about offensive balance and consistency heading into 2021.
Statistically, the contrast between the two teams was stark last season. Pittsburgh finished last in the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging just 84.4 yards on the ground. Buffalo, by comparison, ranked second in total offense, averaging 396.4 yards per game and leaning heavily on an aggressive, pass-first approach.
Recent history between the teams
The Bills have won two of the last three meetings between the clubs, including a 26–15 victory in December 2020. That stretch marked a shift in what had historically been a Steelers-leaning series.
- Dec 13, 2020: Bills 26, Steelers 15
- Dec 15, 2019: Bills 17, Steelers 10
- Dec 11, 2016: Steelers 27, Bills 20
Setting the stage
Sunday’s game serves as an early litmus test for both franchises. For Buffalo, it is a chance to validate lofty expectations in front of a home crowd. For Pittsburgh, it offers an immediate opportunity to show progress after an offseason focused on retooling the offense and addressing last year’s late-season slide.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET in Orchard Park, with CBS carrying the broadcast nationwide.