Steelers outlast Buccaneers in overtime contest

Seeking their first road victory of 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers travelled to Raymond James Stadium, facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hoped to use home advantage to impprove their position in the NFC South, having finally gotten a win on the board over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5.

Pittsburgh entered the Week 6 matchup at 3-2 after an encouraging run of performances, while Tampa Bay were looking to build consistency despite quarterback Baker Mayfield being sidelined with a thumb injury. With rookie Jalon Daniels again starting under centre for the Buccaneers, the Steelers defense had an opportunity to take advantage of the inexperienced quarterback.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring after Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on a tipped pass that fell into the hands of defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. The Buccaneers capitalised on the favourable field position, with Chase McLaughlin converting a 43-yard field goal.

Pittsburgh struggled to respond, with short possessions and missed opportunities allowing Tampa Bay to dictate the pace of play. The hosts extended their lead early in the second quarter when Daniels connected with Emeka Egbuka for a 2-yard touchdown, capping off an 8-play drive and making it 10-0.

McLaughlin added another field goal to push the advantage to 13-0, leaving the Steelers facing a significant deficit. Pittsburgh finally managed to put points on the board just before halftime, as Chris Boswell converted a 52-yard field goal after Rodgers led a late drive without a timeout. The kick made it 13-3 at the break, but the Steelers still had considerable work to do after an ineffective first half.

The Buccaneers extended their advantage in the third quarter when McLaughlin converted another field goal after a Herculean 17-play drive, which consumed over 9 minutes, moving the score to 16-3.

Pittsburgh’s offense remained frustratingly inconsistent, but the Steelers began to find openings as the fourth quarter approached. Rodgers finally delivered a touchdown pass, connecting with Darnell Washington for a 5-yard score to cut the deficit all of a sudden to just 6 points.

The play gave Pittsburgh renewed belief, and the defense soon provided another opportunity when rookie Daylen Everette intercepted Daniels at the Tampa Bay 45-yard line. The Steelers could not find the end zone on the ensuing possession, but Boswell’s field goal made it 16-13 with just over 8 minutes left.

Pittsburgh’s defense then produced another crucial breakthrough. Daniels threw another interception, this time to former Buccaneer Jamel Dean, who returned the ball 40 yards to the Buccaneers’ 3-yard line. Tampa Bay’s defense stood firm near the goal line, forcing Pittsburgh to settle for Boswell’s 20-yard field goal. With 1:21 remaining, the Steelers had completed the resurrection and taken a 19-16 lead.

The Buccaneers refused to surrender, however, and Daniels led a late drive to give McLaughlin an opportunity to rescue the game. The kicker calmly converted a 53-yard field goal with just 8 seconds remaining, levelling the score at 19-19 and sending the contest into overtime.

Pittsburgh took possession and put together a composed 12-play, 70-yard drive. Rodgers found DK Metcalf and Jaylen Warren for crucial gains before connecting with rookie receiver Germie Bernard for a 6-yard touchdown. Bernard’s first NFL touchdown gave the Steelers a 26-19 lead, giving the Buccaneers no choice but to score a touchdown of their own.

Tampa Bay still had a chance to respond, and Daniels scrambled for a vital first down on 4th and 9 to keep the drive alive. But the Steelers defense delivered one final decisive play, as Jalen Ramsey sacked Daniels on the following 4th down to end the contest.

The victory lifts Pittsburgh to 4-2 after an impressive comeback, with Rodgers finishing 33-49 for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. The Steelers defense also recorded 5 sacks and 2 interceptions. For Tampa Bay, the defeat drops the Buccaneers to 1-5 despite a strong start and a spirited late response. Pittsburgh will take confidence from its resilience, while the Buccaneers and their rookie quarterback must find a way to turn promising stretches into four-quarter performances.

Touchdowns
Pittsburgh: Washington, Bernard
Tampa Bay: Egbuka

Top Performers
Pittsburgh: Rodgers, Boswell, Dean, Ramsey, Herbig
Tampa Bay: McLaughin, Trotter, Walker, Egbuka

Injuries
Pittsburgh: N/A
Tampa Bay: N/A

Crowd: TBC @ Raymond James Stadium