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Von Miller: Mike Tomlin calls Bills pass rusher 'an alien visiting from another planet'

Von Miller has 118.5 career sacks, placing him 22nd on the NFL's all-time list; the 33-year-old has 18 quarterback pressures this season - tied for second in the league - and three sacks; Miller's Buffalo Bills (3-1) host Mike Tomlin's Pittsburgh Steelers (1-3) this Sunday

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sept. 8, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Image: Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller has three sacks in four games so far this season

With the Pittsburgh Steelers confirming that Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback for the Week Five clash with the Buffalo Bills, the rookie will get as tough an early test of his credentials as possible by premier pass rusher Von Miller.

Miller has a massive 118.5 career sacks, placing him 22nd on the all-time list, since being taken with the No 2 overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Having secured a second Super Bowl title of his career with the Los Angeles Rams last season, following on from being named MVP in his prior win with the Denver Broncos to cap the 2015 season, Miller has started a new chapter in Buffalo, penning a six-year, $120m deal in the offseason.

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Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins talks of the energy their quarterback Josh Allen gives to the team and discusses the 'immaculate addition' of Miller to the defense

And, even at 33-years-old, Miller is still performing at the highest level, with his 18 quarterback pressures this season tied for second in the league, per Next Gen Stats. In four starts, he has three sacks.

Asked about the threat Miller poses to his Steelers and to Pickett, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said: "Some guys are aliens visiting from another planet - that's just the reality of it.

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Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quaterback Kenny Pickett ran in a pair of touchdowns on his NFL debut against the New York Jets

"In the National Football League, you've got to respect all these guys - they're all freaky. But some guys are even freaky in our setting. And he's just one of those guys."

Tomlin added: "He always has been [special] since he came out of [Texas] A&M.

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"He needs no endorsement from me. His resume is his resume. Kudos to Von Miller. Tip of the cap to Von Miller.''

That resume of Miller's includes those two Super Bowl victories, to go with eight Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talks to players on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the New York Giants in East Rutherford, N.J., in this Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, file photo. The Steelers signed their longtime head coach to a three-year contract extension on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, that runs through the 2024 season. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Image: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin coached Miller in the Pro Bowl in 2017

Tomlin coached Miller in one of those Pro Bowls at the conclusion of the 2017 season. Miller racked up three tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, two QB hits and a defended pass as he was named Defensive MVP in the game.

"I spent a week with him in Orlando when we coached the Pro Bowl and just to see the professional and scientific approach that he takes to his craft, even in a setting like that, that guy was the reason we won that game," Tomlin said.

"I know we don't spend a lot of time talking about the outcomes of Pro Bowl games, but Von Miler took over that one and gave us all quality checks. And we appreciate his efforts."

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