Steelers rookie Germie Bernard catches overtime winner in Tampa originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a fourth-quarter comeback to get to overtime. Then rookie Germie Bernard gave them the finish they came for.
Bernard caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers with 3:15 remaining in overtime, lifting Pittsburgh to a 26–19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was Bernard’s first regular-season touchdown, and it arrived at the biggest possible moment after the Steelers had spent most of the afternoon chasing the game.
Tampa Bay led 16–3 entering the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh finally broke through when Rodgers found Darnell Washington for a five-yard touchdown. Chris Boswell added three field goals in the final period, including a 58-yarder that tied the game at 19 with 1:21 left in regulation.
Pittsburgh found a way to stay alive
The Steelers’ offense had been quiet for most of the afternoon, but the comeback came together one drive at a time. Washington’s touchdown gave Pittsburgh a chance, and Boswell kept delivering as the Steelers closed the gap.
Germie Bernard's FIRST career touchdown gives Pittsburgh the lead in overtime 👏 https://t.co/o9aIhjS7ma
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 18, 2026
His long field goal forced overtime and prevented Tampa Bay from finishing a game it had controlled for three quarters. In the extra period, the Steelers moved the ball into scoring position, and Rodgers found Bernard for the winning touchdown.
For Bernard, the moment was a major step in a season that had seen him contribute without reaching the end zone in a regular-season game. The rookie receiver had already been part of Pittsburgh’s rotation, but Sunday gave him a highlight that will follow him for the rest of the year: a game-winning catch in overtime.
A comeback that could steady the Steelers
Pittsburgh’s 26–19 victory moves it to 4–2 and gives the team a result built on resilience. The offense did not look sharp for much of the game, and falling behind 16–3 left little margin for error. The Steelers still found enough late execution to force overtime and finish the job.
The win also underscores why Pittsburgh can remain dangerous even when its offense needs time to find a rhythm. Rodgers made the decisive throw, Boswell supplied the comeback points, and Bernard turned his opportunity into the touchdown that ended the game.
The Steelers will take the win, but the slow start is something they will need to address. They cannot count on a fourth-quarter rally every week. For one afternoon, though, the rally worked, and a rookie receiver delivered the final play.