9 winners and 4 losers from Steelers’ comeback victory against Bucs: Aaron Rodgers and the offense come alive in Tampa Bay
That was one of the wildest Pittsburgh Steelers games in a while. Somehow, someway, the Steelers came out victorious against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling out an overtime win on the road in Tampa. Given the quality of the opponent, it never should have been that close. Even so, a win is a win, and […]
That was one of the wildest Pittsburgh Steelers games in a while. Somehow, someway, the Steelers came out victorious against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, pulling out an overtime win on the road in Tampa. Given the quality of the opponent, it never should have been that close. Even so, a win is a win, and Pittsburgh now heads to Paris at 4-2 in a 3-way tie atop the AFC North.
As always, we’ll start with the winners before getting to the losers from Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay.
Steelers winners vs. Bucs
EDGE Nick Herbig
Herbig signed his massive extension in the offseason and had been relatively quiet since. Well, he wasn’t quiet on Sunday. Herbig finished with two sacks, including a big one late in the game, and was phenomenal off the edge.
DT Yahya Black
Black recorded the first sack of his career and is doing his best work with Derrick Harmon on IR. He had a good game, and the Steelers need more of that from him.
CB Daylen Everette
Everette was getting picked on early, and we know that has been a trend for him. However, the rookie came up with a momentum-swinging interception in the fourth quarter and held his own down the back half of the game.
QB Aaron Rodgers
The offense looked completely inept early, and Rodgers got off to another slow start. Still, he never wavered. Rodgers brought the Steelers back to life in the second half and marched them down the field in overtime for the game-winning drive.
Key Takeaways
- 33/49 passing
- 253 passing yards
- 2 passing TDs
- 1 interception
WR DK Metcalf
Metcalf came alive with his best game yet as a Steeler, finishing with 11 catches for 93 receiving yards. This was the wide receiver Pittsburgh traded for and paid.
K Chris Boswell
Boswell missed a field goal inside of 50 yards early, and you had to wonder if it was going to be that kind of day. It wasn’t. He drilled a huge 58-yard field goal to tie the game after the two-minute warning and hit the go-ahead kick later on. After that miss, Boswell was money.
CB Jamel Dean
This was a revenge game for Dean in his return to Tampa Bay, and he took full advantage. He was sticky in coverage all day long, broke up multiple passes, and came away with the interception that set up Boswell’s big kick.
WR Germie Bernard
The Steelers traded up in the NFL Draft back in April to get Bernard, and he delivered when they needed him most. With no Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek, or Michael Pittman Jr. available, the rookie out of Alabama stepped right in and caught 11 passes for 87 yards. He also scored a touchdown that would ultimately be the nail in the coffin for the Buccaneers.
DB Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey was the biggest winner of the day. He recorded multiple sacks, including the game-winner that sent the Steelers to Paris victorious, and racked up multiple tackles for loss. Ramsey was all over the field, and it was undoubtedly his best game in Pittsburgh.
Steelers losers vs. Bucs
LB Cole Holcomb
Holcomb was flagged for a blindside block, his second personal foul for that kind of play. If he does it again, he’s going to be suspended one game. It’s not a good look, and Holcomb wasn’t great overall.
R Kaden Wetjen
Neither was Wetjen, who had a rough day returning. Every time he returns the ball, he gets hit and goes down. He doesn’t make anybody miss, and he doesn’t break tackles. Wetjen hasn’t looked great so far as a fourth-round pick, though he’s a rookie, and he deserves time. For a moment, it looked like Pittsburgh might replace him with Lew Nichols. Either way, Wetjen has to be better.
Special Teams
The same goes for the special teams unit as a whole. Danny Smith, the longtime Steelers special teams coordinator, was on the other sideline, and his unit outplayed Pittsburgh’s. Special teams could have cost the Steelers this game. Whether it’s the return game or tackling in coverage, the group needs to be much sharper.
Pass Protection
I charted five sacks allowed. Some of that was on tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, and some of it was on the offensive tackles, including rookie Max Iheanachor. The line has to be more buttoned up because the Steelers can’t have their 42-year-old quarterback, who is about to turn 43, getting beat up.
Even with all of that, the Steelers escaped Tampa Bay with a win. Now, they head to Paris at 4-2 with a share of first place in the AFC North and plenty to clean up on special teams and up front.

