The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are already staring at a must-win stretch five games into the regular season, and Thursday night’s road win in Dallas gave them something they badly needed: proof they can steady themselves after a rough start.
That victory came with a few encouraging signs. Undrafted rookie QB Jalon Daniels looked sharp in his second NFL game, and the defense did its part by keeping Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens well below their usual production. Now the challenge shifts back home, where the Buccaneers need to keep that momentum going against Pittsburgh.
If Tampa Bay wants to string wins together, it has to deal with a Steelers group that offers problems at every level. The most obvious threat is Jaylen Warren, who has gone from change-of-pace option to the centerpiece of the offense.
Warren has piled up 640 total yards from scrimmage, good for third in the NFL, and he’s doing damage in every phase. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry, leads Pittsburgh with 19 catches, and tops the team in receiving yards with 230.
Last week against Indianapolis, he delivered his best showing yet with 188 yards and one touchdown.
Then there’s T.J. Watt, who continues to look like one of the league’s most disruptive defenders even in what the source describes as a relatively quiet 2025 season by his standards.
His 4.5 sacks tie for sixth in the NFL, but that only tells part of the story. Watt also owns a 92.1 run defense grade from PFF, the best among all edge rushers so far this year.
He has added 13 tackles, six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and an interception he returned 35 yards for a touchdown against the Falcons in Week 1.
And while some may question whether Aaron Rodgers still belongs in a list like this, his recent run says otherwise. The 42-year-old has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his last three games.
He sits fifth in the league with 11 passing touchdowns and 11th in passing yards with 1,234. Rodgers no longer has the mobility he once did, but the arm talent is still there, and his processing remains elite.
Even with an underwhelming group of pass catchers around him, he’s found ways to produce.
For Tampa Bay, the formula is clear: contain Warren, stay aware of Watt at all times, and avoid giving Rodgers the kind of looks that let him pick apart a defense. If the Bucs can’t do that, Pittsburgh has the firepower to make them pay.
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 🡒]