Even after finally getting into the win column, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still head into their next matchup with plenty of uncertainty hanging around the team.
The good news is that the defense backed up its showing on the road last Thursday night by shutting down the Dallas Cowboys’ prolific offense and delivering Tampa Bay its first victory of the season. The bigger-picture question is whether that performance was a one-off or the start of something real, especially with Baker Mayfield out and UDFA rookie QB Jalon Daniels asked to keep things moving.
That challenge gets a lot stiffer on October 18th, when Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers arrive at Raymond James Stadium.
Pittsburgh comes in fresh off an impressive win of its own, having trampled the Colts. The Steelers are also in a very different spot than Tampa Bay overall, sitting at 3-2 and battling for the top of the AFC North.
Still, the betting market is not treating this like a mismatch. According to FanDuel, the Buccaneers are only a +2.5 underdog, a number that suggests Tampa Bay is expected to stay within a field goal of the Steelers.
That line says plenty about how oddsmakers view Daniels’ ability to manage the offense. Tampa Bay does not need him to carry the team by himself. The assignment is simpler: run Zac Robinson’s offense cleanly, control possession, and avoid the kind of turnover-worthy mistakes that can flip a game fast.
He showed those traits in Dallas. Daniels made sound decisions in and out of the pocket, helped the Buccaneers hold the ball, and limited the chances for Prescott and the Cowboys’ explosive offense to take over the game.
For Tampa Bay, that’s the formula again. If Daniels can build on what he did in Week 5, the Buccaneers will have a real shot to pull off the upset against Pittsburgh at home.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
In Other News...
Jalon Daniels Showed The Bucs Something They May Need Soon
Jalon Daniels gave Tampa Bay a useful glimpse of what its offense can look like when the quarterback keeps plays alive and makes the defense account for more than just the first read. Against Dallas, Daniels showed strong situational awareness on his opening drive and added the kind of mobility that can stress a defense in a hurry, while the Buccaneers also got a boost from the play design and in-game adjustments put together by offensive coordinator Zac Robinson.
The encouraging part for Tampa Bay is that Daniels did not need the offense to be perfect for it to move. He helped extend drives, found openings downfield and made the Cowboys defend every inch of the field, which is the sort of versatility that can matter when a game tightens up later in the season. The bigger question now is how much of that package the Buccaneers can count on when they need it most. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Just Found What Could Steady This Season
The Buccaneers spent the first month of the 2026 season fighting through offensive problems that seemed to touch everything, from quarterback play to the protection in front of him. Then came a cleaner performance against Dallas, one that gave Tampa Bay a much better template to lean on as it tries to settle down its season.
The biggest difference was up front, where the offensive line held together far better and allowed Bucky Irving to find room on the ground while rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels was under much less duress. For a team that has been searching for stability, that kind of protection can change the feel of the whole offense, and it may be the clearest sign yet of what the Buccaneers need to build around moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield Puts Buccaneers Week 6 Outlook In Serious Doubt
Baker Mayfields push to get back on the field has become one of the biggest storylines around Tampa Bay heading into Week 6. The Buccaneers have spent the past two games without their starting quarterback after he suffered a dislocated thumb, and the original timetable pointed to a longer absence than just a couple of weeks. In his place, undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels has handled the offense and helped deliver Tampa Bay its first win of the season.
The next step is less about desire than clearance, and that leaves the Bucs in a holding pattern as they prepare for Pittsburgh. Mayfield still has to get through the medical process before he can be available Sunday, which keeps the situation fluid even as he works to return sooner than expected. For Tampa Bay, it means the Week 6 plan could hinge on a quarterback question that remains unresolved deep into the buildup. [Read more 🡒]