The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the team's Week 6 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This is a game the Steelers are expected to win as Tampa Bay is starting an undrafted free agent at quarterback in Jalon Daniels. However, Daniels looked solid during Tampa Bay's Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and the Buccaneers are coming into the game with a severe rest advantage after playing on Thursday Night Football. The Steelers have also struggled on the road through the first five weeks of the season as the team's two losses have come in hostile territory.
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Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels throws a pass during a win against the Cowboys in October 2026.
Hopefully the defense for Pittsburgh can step up and make life difficult for Daniels on Sunday, but the Steelers offense also needs to find a way to perform. The group looked solid against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, but the Colts have one of the worst defenses in the NFL and their pass rush is essentially non-existent. That is not the case for Tampa Bay. The defense for the Buccaneers currently ranks in the top 10 in the NFL when it comes to yards allowed, and the group is 14th in points allowed.
If there is a major weakness for the Buccaneers defense, it would be the pass rush. The team has only six sacks on the year, which is why Todd Bowles may decide to utilize the blitz often in this game. The defense has to find a way to make Aaron Rodgers uncomfortable, and ESPN's Seth Walder believes they will do that.
"The Buccaneers will blitz on more than 50% of Pittsburgh dropbacks, a season high for them," Walder wrote. "Bowles loves to send extra heat anyway, but I'm willing to bet he'll be especially keen to do so this week, considering the Steelers rank last in EPA per play against the blitz. Whether that pattern will hold is harder to say, but Rodgers should see plenty of extra defenders headed his way."
Rodgers is obviously more vulnerable against the blitz due to his limited mobility, and Bowles will probably want to test the youth on the offensive line. The Steelers are starting a rookie at right tackle in Max Iheanachor, and this starting five has only been playing together for three weeks. That means communication may still be an issue, especially on the road. Blitzing often is a great way for Tampa Bay to cause chaos.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium.
Another factor to consider is that Bowles and the defense for the Buccaneers don't really need to be too worried about coverage. Wide receivers in Pittsburgh have struggled to gain separation all season long, and the group is beat up at the moment. Bowles won't need to worry about dropping a ton of players back in coverage, which then allows for more blitzing.
Rodgers showed the most mobility he ever has during Pittsburgh's Week 5 win over the Colts, and if Tampa Bay plans to blitz him a ton, he is going to have to be able to replicate that on Sunday.
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Is On A Heater
Rodgers is playing some great football right now as he has thrown for three touchdowns in three consecutive games. He did that against the Cleveland Browns when they were blitzing and playing tight man coverage all game, so there should be reason to believe that he will be able to put forth a similar performance against Tampa Bay. The running game has also come alive with Jaylen Warren getting more carries, so that should hopefully set up some play action in the passing game.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy may have to get creative with ways to counter the blitzing from Tampa Bay, but it is imperative that the coach gets his first win on the road in black and gold. The Steelers need to find a way to win consecutive games throughout this stretch of the schedule.
What do you think about this prediction from Walder? Are you worried? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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