Rookie Jalon Daniels says overtime loss to Steelers will not dent Buccaneers’ confidence
Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels said Monday that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not let Sunday’s 26-19 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers sap the team’s confidence as they move forward. The defeat dropped Tampa Bay to 1-5 and, as Head Coach Todd Bowles noted after the game, removed any margin for error for the remainder of the season. Bowles also emphasized the tight-knit nature of the locker room and said the team would not break under the current pressure.
Daniels said the Buccaneers will enter Week 7 with full energy and a focused preparation plan, reviewing the game film and moving on to the next opponent. He stressed that the club will not let the result against Pittsburgh dictate how they approach practice or their day-to-day routine. Daniels added that the players understand how it feels to win and plan to bring the same intensity despite the setback.
Tampa Bay will travel to Charlotte in Week 7 to face the 3-2 Carolina Panthers, who won the division last season on a tiebreaker over the Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. The Buccaneers are concentrating on securing a divisional victory and clawing back into contention rather than dwelling on longer-term playoff scenarios. The focus, Daniels said, is on division football and preparing to compete in Carolina.
Daniels has started the Buccaneers’ last three games after Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand in Week 3. Tampa Bay is 1-2 in those starts, including an impressive performance in Dallas on Thursday night in Week 5. Head Coach Todd Bowles said he likely would not have a clear indication of Mayfield’s availability for Week 7 until practice on Wednesday. Daniels said he would prefer a 3-0 record in his starts but that he is grateful for the opportunity and believes he has shown he can play at the NFL level.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Buccaneers face a critical stretch with their margin for error gone and a divisional trip looming. Maintaining locker-room cohesion and consistent weekly preparation, as Daniels described, is essential for a team at 1-5 seeking to stay competitive in the NFC South. The quarterback situation remains the key variable; Mayfield’s recovery timeline will determine whether Tampa Bay regains an experienced starter or continues to rely on the rookie’s developing playmaking.