The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally got their first victory of the season last week, but must go on a winning streak in order to make it meaningful.
At 1-4, the Bucs are only 1.5 games behind the Carolina Panthers in the weak NFC South division. However, Tampa must win a few more games before it can even start thinking about making the playoffs.
Luckily, the Bucs have winnable games on the schedule over the next few weeks, including a pair against division rivals.
However, Tampa has the Pittsburgh Steelers on the docket next, already the Bucs’ third game against an AFC North foe. The Steelers are 3-2 and have been inconsistent this season, although their offense has turned a corner after a very slow start.
The Bucs are 2.5-point underdogs at home, but managed to pull off the upset against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 as 9.5-point underdogs.
Beating the Steelers will qualify as an upset, but it is a very winnable game for the Bucs.
The Matchup
Aside from a non-existent pass rush, the Bucs’ defense has been very good this season. Now it must contend with a red-hot Aaron Rodgers, who has thrown for three TDs in each of Pittsburgh’s last three games.
Steelers’ RB Jaylen Warren has also been outstanding in the last three games, rushing for 127, 93, and 101 yards. He also caught an 80-yard TD last week, and his 230 receiving yards lead the team.
Tampa’s run defense is second in the NFL so far, and stopping Warren is one of my five keys to a Bucs’ victory, as is finally getting the pass rush to show a pulse.
On offense, the Bucs have a budding star in RB Bucky Irving, who is coming off a career-best 165 rushing yards and had both a rushing and a receiving TD against Dallas. For Tampa to win, Irving must continue to be the centerpiece of the offense.
Undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels will be making his third straight start while starting QB Baker Mayfield recovers from a dislocated thumb. Daniels has played with the poise of a seasoned veteran and earned the first victory of his career against the Cowboys.
For Tampa to win, Daniels must once again play a clean, turnover-free game. The offensive line must keep Pittsburgh’s pass rush, especially T.J. Watt, away from Daniels.
Who Wins?
This game is set to be a matchup of strengths against strengths.
Warren is sixth in the NFL in rushing yards and will be going up against Tampa’s strong run defense.
Rodgers has been great over the last three weeks, but will have to make plays against a secondary that has shut down the star WR duos of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The Steelers will be without WRs Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson in this game.
If Irving can get going early, it will make life much easier for Daniels, whose ability to also make plays with his legs can be a huge factor, especially on third down.
This game seems like it could go either way, with a turnover or missed kick looming large at game’s end. I don’t think it will be Chase McLaughlin who misses the kick, as he has been perfect this season for the Bucs.
Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Steelers 22