Dec 8, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – With snow in the forecast and Buffalo owning the NFL’s top-rated running attack, the Steelers’ game against the Bills figures to be won by the battles taking place within five yards of the line of scrimmage.

That’s where Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons lays down the law.

The player nicknamed “Lawdog” early in his career by head coach Mike Tomlin has been living up to that nickname this season.

Heading into Sunday’s game at New Era Field, Timmons leads the Steelers (7-5) with 89 combined tackles, including 60 solo. No other player on the team has more than 57 combined tackles and Timmons could surpass 100 tackles for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time in the past seven seasons against the Bills (6-6).

Not bad for a guy who some were ready to release after last season because he had a $15.1-million salary cap hit heading into the final year of his contract.

Timmons suffered a toe injury in training camp last year and struggled throughout the season because of it. He never missed playing time because of the injury – Timmons’ 96 consecutive games played streak is the longest active streak among linebackers – but his tackles fell to 119. With four games remaining, he should surpass that total this season.

More important, Timmons has been a steadying force on the young defense.

“I think he is stepping up. He needs to,” said defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “As a player, when we get late in the season, the last fourth of the season like we are now, you have to understand there is a sense of urgency that wasn’t there in the middle part of the season. We have to win. We can’t afford to lose and still have a chance to make it to the playoffs. We have to step it up. The intensity has to come up a bit. It becomes a lot more fun.”

At 30-years old and 10 years into his career, Tomlin’s first first-round draft pick is still having fun. And there’s no doubt he wants to keep playing in Pittsburgh.

That’s likely to happen, despite the Steelers signing backup Vince Williams to a 3-year, $5.5-million contract extension in August, especially if Timmons continues to play at this level.

“I feel like I’m doing OK. I feel like I’m doing well,” Timmons said. “I don’t try to be perfect but I try to give the guys something to go off of and be the guy that sets the tone for the defense.”

He’s done that, with no play bigger than the interception he had last Sunday in a 24-14 win over the Giants.

With the Steelers leading, 5-0, the Giants were driving and had the ball inside the Pittsburgh 10. But Timmons made a leaping interception of an Eli Manning pass at the 2 and returned it to the New York 40.

“We were controlling the game until that point, but we were only up 5-0,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “Often times when you are controlling the game but you’re not scoring touchdowns, you make yourself susceptible to momentum swings. They were in the process of doing that had they been able to score a touchdown. Timmons’ play was significant in terms of us maintaining control of the game.”

Timmons has done a lot of that throughout his career, which includes one Pro Bowl berth and one Super Bowl win.

“I just think he’s playing well. I think, like our young guys, he’s finding his rhythm,” said Tomlin. “Maybe a lot of that has to do with gaining continuity in terms of who you’re playing with. You know, he’s been in there alongside Ryan Shazier for a number of games now. I think Ryan’s been back five or six games and that continuity, that flow of communication probably aides in play.”

The Steelers hope that’s a winning combination down the stretch.

With four games remaining, the defense has risen from one of the worst in the league to one that has given up 30 combined points in its past three games.

The infusion of young talent in defensive backs Artie Burns and Sean Davis, and nose tackle Javon Hargrave is partly responsible. And, as Tomlin said, having Shazier at inside linebacker the past five games has helped. But so, too, has Timmons’ steady and often spectacular play.

“It’s all about consistency,” Timmons said. “Guys have bought into the fact they don’t need to make every tackle. We’re just out there playing what coach Butler calls and letting the game come to us.”

Hargrave remains in concussion protocol and did not practice Thursday, making it unlikely he will play against the Bills. … Also sitting out were guard Ramon Foster (chest), placekicker Chris Boswell (abdomen), receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot), quarterback Zach Mettenberger (illness), safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) and running back DeAngelo Williams (knee).