The Pittsburgh Steelers are entering perhaps the easiest stretch of their season in the coming weeks. After defeating a weaker Indianapolis Colts team, they will travel to Tampa Bay and take on the 1-4 Buccaneers. This game is special, as Pittsburgh hasn't faced former Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield since 2021. With Mayfield potentially missing the game with a thumb injury, it's considered a game they should win. The Buccaneers are coming off a huge win against the Dallas Cowboys, with undrafted free agent QB Jalon Daniels stealing the show.
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Carolina Panthers linebacker Christian Rozeboom (56) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first half of a game at Bank of America Stadium.
The Steelers' defense has struggled in the last three games to slow the opposing team's passing attack. With the secondary so thin, they haven't been playing much man-to-man coverage and have been trying to play a bend-don't-break style defense. While Daniels' only significant game came against a weak Cowboys defense, this matchup shouldn't be taken lightly, as the Steelers have been shredded by backup QBs before.
One of the team's inside linebackers, Payton Wilson, recently appeared on Good Morning Football, where he assured Steeler Nation that he and the defense wouldn't take this game lightly, no matter who's at quarterback for the Buccaneers. Wilson thinks back to the past two years, when backup QB Joe Flacco diced the Steelers' defense in 2024 with the Colts and in 2025 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
"It doesn't really matter who you play. You know, I've been in games where people have gone down, and other quarterbacks have come in and just diced us up," Wilson said. "Joe Flacco did it to us last year in Cincinnati, and did it to me my rookie year against the Colts. If anyone's in this league, they're excellent players, and they're able to get the job done. So we have to approach it just like every other game and prepare the exact same way."
Flacco has been a thorn in the Steelers' side his entire career and has faced Pittsburgh more than any active player in the league. He's a Super Bowl champion and is a much more experienced QB than Daniels. However, with the Steelers' defensive struggles and Daniels’ ability to evade defenders, this is an easy trap game for Pittsburgh's defense. Patrick Graham will need to find ways to confuse the rookie and keep him from affecting the game with his legs.
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Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco prepares to throw a pass during a game against the Steelers in October 2025.
Mayfield isn't officially out for Week 6 and could still play. If he suits up on Sunday, it could be even worse for the Steelers' defense, as the threat through the air becomes even more lethal. The Buccaneers have a solid group of wide receivers, but they've been without their starting QB the past three games. If Mayfield feeds them the ball, the Steelers' secondary will be overmatched.
The Steelers may get former Buccaneer Jamel Dean back in Week 6, but his status is still to be determined as well. If Dean returns, Pittsburgh will have its best cornerback back, and the matchup against Tampa's wide receivers will be less stressful for the secondary, no matter who's under center. Regardless of who plays for the Buccaneers on Sunday, the game will not be easy for the Steelers, and they should prepare accordingly.
Steelers’ Defense Needs To Help The Offense
In the past three games, the Steelers’ defense has conceded more than 21 points and has struggled on the back end. The offense hasn't been perfect, but it's scored 30 points in two of the last three games and 24 in the third. The team hasn't been playing complementary football, which often leaves them in one-score games. The defense needs to tighten up, make more timely stops, and let the offense get ahead.
The flaws have been many: poor tackling, lack of pass rush, poor coverage, and poor communication. Graham needs to attack the QB more instead of sitting in soft zone, especially if they’re playing an undrafted free agent with little experience. Time will tell to see how the Steelers play it.
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