Well, we’ve made it to week six and it’s Kenny Pickett’s first start at home. This really could be one where you might want to look away at times but hey, gotta have faith!! Here’s everything you need to know about the Tampa Bay Bucs and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2 at Pittsburgh Steelers 1-4
Where: Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA
When: 1pmET Sunday October 16th 2022
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 61 degrees at kickoff.
Wagering Information: Buccaneers -8.5
Last Week: Tampa Bay defeated the Atlanta Falcons 21-15 in Florida while the Steelers lost to the Bills in Buffalo 38-3.
TV: FOX To Be Determined (Play-by-Play), Darryl Johnston (Analysis), Pam Oliver (Sideline). DUe to FOX coverage of the MLB Playoffs, they have yet to announce the lead person at this time.
TV Coverage in Your Area: Check the 506 for coverage in your area. For the first time this season, very little of the country will get the Steelers’ game.
Radio: Steelers Nation Radio/WDVE Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Craig Wolfley (analysis), Missi Matthews (sideline),
Max Starks (sideline)
ESPN Radio: Steve Levy and Mike Tannenbaum
Head Official: Shawn Smith. Smith has been an NFL referee for the last five seasons. He has a degree in Finance from Ferris St. (MI). Smith last saw the Steelers when he officiated their Wild-Card loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.
Key Injuries/Game Status (courtesy steelers.com) PIT: CB Cameron Sutton (Hamstring) – Out, CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Hamstring) – Out, CB Levi Wallace (Concussion) – Out, S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Knee) – Out, TE Pat Freiermuth (Concussion) – Out, DE DeMarvin Leal (Knee) – Out TB: S Mike Edwards (Elbow) – Questionable, DT Akiem Hicks (Foot) – Out
WR Julio Jones (Knee) – Doubtful, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Quad) – Out, S Logan Ryan (Foot) – Out
Injury Notes: I don’t even know where to begin… One thing to look for is more Connor Heyward. With Freiermuth out he will likely see more time. As for the defense? I expect to see a lot of very basic schemes.
2022 NFL Ranks:
Total Offense: PIT 30th TB 21st Passing Offense: PIT 23rd TB 3rd Rushing Offense: PIT 29th TB 31st
Total Defense: PIT 25th TB 6th Passing Defense: PIT 31st TB 6th Rushing Defense: PIT 23rd TB 18th
AFC North Rankings: Baltimore 3-2, Cleveland 2-3, Cincinnati 2-3, Pittsburgh 1-4
This Week in the AFC North: Cincinnati at New Orleans 1pmET, New England at Cleveland 1pmET, Baltimore at NY Giants 1pmET
What You Need to Know: The Steelers are now 0-8 all-time when they are without T.J. Watt due to injury… Tom Brady has the most wins of any visiting quarterback in the history of Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium… Kenny Pickett joined Cliff Stoudt as the only Steelers’ QBs in history to open a career with a 300-yard passing game… 15 teams since the NFL merger in 1970 started the season 1-4 and made the playoffs. The 1976 Steelers did it making it to the AFC Title Game… Pittsburgh has yet to win at Acrisure Stadium…
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Names to Know: QB Tom Brady, RB Leonard Fournette, WR Mike Evans, LB Lavonte David, LB Devin White, DL Vita Vea, S Keanu Neal, S Antoine Winfield, Jr
What’s at Stake: The Buccaneers look to maintain their lead on the NFC South while the Steelers desperately need a victory to stop the bleeding after losing four straight games.
All-Time Series: Steelers lead 9-2 and lead in Pittsburgh 3-1
Postseason History: N/A
Steelers Game Highs vs TB: PASSING: Ben Roethlisberger 353 yards 2018 RUSHING: Jerome Bettis 143 yards 2001 RECEIVING: Louis Lipps 137 yards 1989 SACKS: Joey Porter 4.0 2001 INTERCEPTIONS: Many with 1. Most recent Mike Hilton in 2018
Last Meeting: September 2018 in Tampa. Steelers 30 Bucs 27
Check out the latest Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast for more on the Steelers.
Three Things We Need to See for a Steelers’ Victory:
1. Next Man Up. Mike Tomlin likes to use this phrase and it will be incredibly ‘on point’ for this game. The top three corners are out as is Minkah Fitzpatrick and Demarvin Leal. I’m not naive – this is going to be a monumental task against Tom Brady – but this is also an opportunity for guys who don’t normally play to prove they belong on an NFL roster. Last week proved the Steelers’ depth is not comparable to that of the Bills but this is a new week and a new shot at success.
2. Make Some Statements. Tomlin had no problem sitting Tyson Alualu and he needs to do the same with some other guys. There are several players who deserve a chance to prove what they can do. Najee Harris is hurt and Jaylen Warren needs more reps. Devin Bush is what he is. It’s time to give Mark Robinson an opportunity. If Chase Claypool continues his lazy play away from the ball then replace him. Statements need to be made win or lose.
3. Win the Line of Scrimmage. The Steelers offensive line faces an incredible task with Vita Vea anchoring the Bucs’ defensive line. He’s big, athletic and gets after it! Mason Cole will have to find a way to neutralize him while the rest of the offensive line helps out. The Tampa LBs are fast so suggesting the Steelers just go wide isn’t always going to be a solution. On the flip-side, Isaiahh Loudermilk will get a helmet for the first time and he has a lot to prove. For the Steelers’ to have any chance defensively, they have to generate pressure on Brady. But… they also have to keep Leonard Fournette from running wild too.
Prediction: Tom Brady against a defense that can’t get to the quarterback and also has a banged up secondary. That’s not good whether Brady is 27 or 45. I believe they’ll pound away with Fournette, set up play-action and the rest will be history. I do think we need to see Kenny Pickett get his team into the end zone a time or two. Should this not happen, then questions will begin not just about Matt Canada but about him as well whether fair or not. The bottom line here is the Steelers are not a good football team right now. There are significant problems in many areas both on and off the field so I don’t think things get any better this week.
Buccaneers 33 Steelers 16
Season Record 3-2
