The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a little momentum last Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, and now they get a chance to see if that spark can hold up when the Pittsburgh Steelers come to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
Tampa Bay is trying to turn one win into something more. Pittsburgh arrives at 3-2, having alternated wins and losses through its first five games, and enters the week as a 2.5-point favorite on the road. If that pattern continues, the Bucs would land a second straight upset and take another step back into the NFC South conversation.
The most obvious place to start for Tampa is Bucky Irving. After putting together a career day against Dallas - 165 rushing yards on 21 carries, plus both a rushing and receiving touchdown for the first time in his three-year career - Irving has made a strong case to be the center of this offense.
He’s up to 406 rushing yards on the season, which ranks eighth in the NFL, and he’s averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He’s also added 15 catches.
Against a Steelers defense that ranks 13th against the run at 103.4 yards allowed per game, Irving gives Tampa a real chance to dictate tempo.
The other piece of the offensive plan is getting Jalon Daniels comfortable early. Last week, OC Zac Robinson leaned on short, safe throws on the opening drive, and it paid off with a 15-play, 10:58 march that ended in a touchdown.
That approach should make sense again on Sunday. Quick passes can keep Tampa ahead of the chains and help open things up on the ground.
Pittsburgh has its own weapon in Jaylen Warren, and the Bucs will have to deal with him on both sides of the ball. Warren has 410 rushing yards, tied for sixth in the NFL, and is averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
After a quiet opening stretch, he’s gone for 127, 93 and 101 rushing yards in his last three games. He’s also been a major factor as a receiver, with 19 catches tied for the team lead and 230 receiving yards to lead the Steelers.
Last week’s 80-yard touchdown catch showed exactly why he’s such a problem. Tampa’s defense has been strong against the run, allowing just 72.8 yards per game, but it can’t afford to let Warren hit big plays.
The pass rush is another area where the Bucs need a lift. Through five games, they’ve managed only six sacks, and that number has to improve if they’re going to bother Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers gets the ball out quickly, which makes the job tougher, but Pittsburgh has already surrendered 14 sacks this season, including games with five and four allowed. Rodgers has also been rolling lately, throwing three touchdown passes in each of the Steelers’ last three games.
Tampa’s secondary has held up well, but it can’t be left to cover forever. This would be a good spot for Rueben Bain Jr. to pick up his first career sack.
And above all, the Bucs have to win the turnover battle again. In their first four games, they were minus-5 in turnover differential and lost all four.
Against Dallas, they forced three turnovers, didn’t give it away once, and the result followed the script. Pittsburgh comes in plus-2 after forcing eight turnovers while giving up six of its own, so there should be chances for Tampa’s defense to make plays.
On the other side, the Bucs have to keep T.J. Watt from wrecking the game.
Watt already has 4.5 sacks this season, and his career total of 37 forced fumbles makes him one of the league’s most dangerous strip-sack threats.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face New Depth Concerns Ahead Of Steelers Game
The Buccaneers had to lean on their practice squad for some late-week reinforcement before facing the Steelers, elevating quarterback Easton Stick and running back Josh Williams for Week 6. It is the kind of roster shuffle that usually signals more than just routine depth, especially for a team still trying to navigate the ripple effects of Baker Mayfields dislocated thumb and the uncertainty that comes with reshuffling the depth chart on short notice.
Stick gives Tampa Bay another arm behind rookie Jalon Daniels, while Williams adds insurance in the backfield as the Bucs wait to see how Sean Tucker responds to a quad injury. For a team heading into a tough matchup, those moves underscore how quickly one injury can turn into a broader depth test, with the next layer of questions still hanging over Sundays lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Steelers Threat Tampa Bay Fans Should Note
Curt Popejoy of Steelers Wire made it clear that Pittsburghs offensive identity is still very much a work in progress with Aaron Rodgers in the mix, and that makes Sundays matchup worth a closer look for Buccaneers fans. From Tampa Bays side, the biggest concern remains how the run game holds up behind Bucky Irving, because if the Steelers can control those early downs, it can change the whole shape of the afternoon.
Popejoy also pointed to one of the more interesting wrinkles in this meeting: special teams coordinator Danny Smith is now on Tampa Bays sideline after leaving Pittsburgh. His departure has become part of the conversation around the Steelers underwhelming special teams, and it adds another layer to a game that already has a few key matchups to watch. Popejoy leaned toward Pittsburgh in his final score prediction, so the Bucs will need cleaner execution in a hurry if they want to keep that forecast from coming true. [Read more 🡒]
Rueben Bain Jr. Addresses The Slow Start Buccaneers Fans Are Watching
Rueben Bain Jr. finally offered a little public perspective on the start Buccaneers fans have been watching, and it sounded like a young pass rusher trying to stay steady through the early bumps. The first-round pick has dealt with a slow opening stretch, spending time out of the lineup while working through shoulder and groin injuries, and his early production has been limited as he gets back into rhythm.
Even so, Bain said he feels optimistic about where things are heading and was encouraged to be part of Tampa Bays first win of the season. For a defense that counted on him to bring energy off the edge, the bigger picture remains the same: the Bucs need the version of Bain they envisioned when they made him a premium pick, and hes still trying to get there on his own timeline. [Read more 🡒]