Buccaneers to Host Steelers in Week Six at Raymond James Stadium
According to the Buccaneers’ Week Six preview, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Raymond James Stadium. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. Tampa Bay will try to follow up its first victory of the season with consecutive wins.
Tampa Bay earned a 24-16 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, fueled by 241 rushing yards and a 3-0 turnover advantage. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, starting for an injured Baker Mayfield, completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown without an interception in his second NFL start. Running back Bucky Irving rushed for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 10 yards and another score.
The Steelers are 2-2 heading into the Week Five weekend and will play at home against the Indianapolis Professional Football Team in search of a third win. Pittsburgh most recently lost 27-24 at Cleveland on a Thursday night, when Aaron Rodgers tied the game with a touchdown pass to Pat Freiermuth before Browns kicker Andre Szmyt ended it with a 56-yard field goal. Through four games, Rodgers has 999 passing yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions, while running back Jaylen Warren has 309 rushing yards and a 5.6-yard average. Pittsburgh’s defense ranks 13th in yards allowed and remains anchored by edge rusher T.J. Watt, who has 4.5 sacks this season and 119.5 in his career.
The clubs have met 12 times previously, with Pittsburgh leading the series 10-2; their most recent meeting came in 2022 when Tampa Bay lost 20-18. This will mark the first time Tampa Bay’s defense faces Rodgers since he left Green Bay in 2023. The Buccaneers have faced Rodgers seven times overall, including the 2020 NFC Championship Game, and have won four of those contests.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Tampa Bay will lean on the rushing attack that produced 241 yards against Dallas while integrating Jalon Daniels into a starting role; sustaining that ground success will be essential against a Steelers front that ranks in the middle of the league in yards allowed. Aaron Rodgers and a productive passing game, aided by Pat Freiermuth, present a contrasting challenge, and T.J. Watt’s presence on the edge could disrupt Tampa Bay’s plans. The Buccaneers’ ability to contain the passing game and avoid turnovers will be decisive in a close matchup. Recent one-possession outcomes, such as Pittsburgh’s loss at Cleveland, underscore how small margins can decide this game.