Bucs Drop Close Game to Steelers 20-18

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ recent struggles continued Sunday after narrowly losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-18. The Bucs have now lost three out of their last four games.

Steelers

Through three quarters, Pittsburgh’s defense held quarterback Tom Brady and the Bucs out of the endzone and caused Tampa Bay to settle for field goals.  The only touchdown allowed by the Steelers came with five minutes left in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Leonard Fournette late in the game.

Brady finished the contest completing 25 of 40 passes for 229 yards. 

The Pittsburgh defense also contained the usually lethal Tampa Bay run game, holding them to only 75 yards on the ground.

Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith combined for a pair of sacks in the big win.

💪 @highsmith34 💪 pic.twitter.com/whl4XSPIrO

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 16, 2022

With the win, the Steelers snapped a four-game losing streak. Kenny Pickett was replaced by Mitch Trubisky after he sustained an injury mid-way through the third quarter. Trubisky put his previous struggles behind him, going 9-12 with 144 yards passing. He also threw one touchdown pass.

.@Mtrubisky10 ➡️ @ChaseClaypool for six!

📺 #TBvsPIT on FOX pic.twitter.com/kotOXNc9GO

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 16, 2022

Tampa Bay

After winning their first two games of the season on the road, the Bucs have struggled in the past four weeks winning just one of those four games.

Tom Brady was very brief in what the team needs to do get back on track.

"We all got to do a better job."

🗣: @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/H7mZnD8bzr

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 16, 2022

The defense struggled on third down as the Steelers converted on seven out of 15 third downs. None was more important than than this third down conversion to put the game away.

.@ChaseClaypool with an incredible grab 🤯

📺 #TBvsPIT on FOX pic.twitter.com/JRBMXpk7zH

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 16, 2022

After the game, head coach Todd Bowles gave a lot of credit to Trubisky for keeping plays alive.

"We got to make plays."

🗣: HC Todd Bowles pic.twitter.com/Tir7AYC41I

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 16, 2022

A Look Ahead

The Bucs will look to get back in the win column as they travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on the struggling Panthers in week seven. Brady has a career record of 7-3 against Carolina.

The Steelers look to win back-to-back games for the first time this year as they head to Miami to take on the Dolphins.