The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are back home Sunday at 1 p.m. with a chance to make it two wins in a row after last week’s 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. But this one comes with a much steeper test: the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defense that looks far more complete than what Tampa Bay just saw, and Aaron Rodgers leading the way on the other side.
Most of the staff sees a tight game in Tampa Bay, and the common thread is pretty clear - the Buccaneers may be able to move the ball, but the Steelers have the edge when it comes to finishing the job.
Tampa Bay’s defense is getting some respect in this matchup, especially on the back end. The Bucs’ corners have played out of their minds this season, and that gives Todd Bowles a chance to really focus on slowing Jaylen Warren, who has become Pittsburgh’s most dangerous offensive weapon. If the Buccaneers can bottle him up and force the Steelers away from explosive plays, they’ll give themselves a real shot.
Offensively, though, the pressure is on Jalon Daniels and Zac Robinson to do the same kind of job they did against Dallas: protect the ball and control the clock. Daniels will be making another start with Mayfield on the mend, and several of the predictions hinged on how he handles a Steelers front that is very different from what he has dealt with so far.
That front is anchored by Cam Heyward and headlined by T.J. Watt, who has 4.5 sacks in five games and is expected to be the toughest edge rusher Tampa Bay has faced this season. One take in the panel put it bluntly: if the Bucs can’t find sacks against an immobile Aaron Rodgers, that’s a problem that could linger beyond this week.
The Bucs are also expected to lean on the run again with Bucky Irving, but that won’t come easily against Pittsburgh’s interior. The thought is that Tampa Bay could still stay within striking distance, but the Steelers’ defense is strong enough to hold the line.
There’s also the belief that Rodgers’ quick-fire short game fits well against Bowles’ defense, while Warren can create trouble for Tampa Bay throughout the afternoon. One prediction called for a low-scoring game, but still gave the nod to Rodgers over Jalon Daniels. Another leaned the same way, saying the Buccaneers would battle hard, only to come up short late.
The most optimistic read for Tampa Bay is that the Bucs can keep things close if they play clean football and win the turnover battle. But most of the picks still land on Pittsburgh, with the Steelers expected to do enough to hand Tampa Bay another loss and keep the Bucs searching for momentum after that win in Dallas.
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For a fan base already bracing for a rough stretch, the biggest immediate question hangs over the Week 7 trip to Carolina and Baker Mayfields injury status. That uncertainty matters because it could shape not just one game, but the tenor of the next few weeks, and it leaves the Buccaneers staring at a finish that feels increasingly difficult to salvage. [Read more 🡒]