The Pittsburgh Steelers hit the road in Week 6 to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they have not yet won a game away from Acrisure Stadium in 2026. In the first year for head coach Mike McCarthy, he is undefeated at home after a Week 5 win against the Indianapolis Colts and their star running back Jonathan Taylor. It is hard to shut down a featured running back like Taylor, but McCarthy's group did a great job in containing him, as he had just 45 yards rushing last week. Rookie Gabriel Rubio did a great job with that and has a chance for more playing time.
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Gabriel Rubio (96) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
On Sunday, the defense will be tasked with trying to do the same to Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving. In their first win of the season in Week 5 on the road against the Dallas Cowboys, Irving had 21 carries for 165 yards and a touchdown. The performance helped propel his team to their first victory of the 2026 NFL campaign.
On Friday, former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch appeared on an episode of the Snap Count podcast to preview the upcoming matchup. He mentioned that stopping the run will be a big key in earning a victory in the game. While discussing the run defense, he mentioned Pittsburgh's rookie being an integral part in slowing down Taylor last week.
“I felt really good about Gabe Rubio and his performance,” Batch said. “So, he he needs to step in as that rookie because he did a great job in that run defense last week. So, if he had if he has to be called into action again, he will be ready.”
The former Notre Dame defensive lineman received some huge compliments following his Week 5 performance against Indianapolis. This was a huge boost to the defensive line, as it was its first game playing without defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, as he is on Injured-Reserve (IR).
The defense ranks 13th in all of the NFL in rushing defense so far with 103.4 yards per game allowed. Another performance like last Sunday against Indianapolis can get the group closer to the top-10 in the league in that category.
For Rubio, he has a big chance to really earn a great deal of playing time with the injury to Harmon. He was taken in the sixth-round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but his performance back in Week 5 showed that it could be a great value pick in that spot.
Despite not even starting in Sunday's matchup against the Colts, the rookie combined for three tackles in his appearance. With injuries piling up at other positions, the emergence of the rookie would be great news for the coaching staff until Harmon gets healthy and back on the field.
Steelers' Defensive Line Must Set Tone Against Buccaneers
The Steelers defensive line must continue to set the tone for them on defense Sunday in Tampa Bay. With the Buccaneers starting a rookie in quarterback Jalon Daniels, it is very important for them to get pressure on him while also containing Irving in the running game.
If they are able to contain Irving, it can get Daniels into third down and long situations, which should force him into making some big rookie mistakes. Daniels went 19-for-25 with 189 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys, but that also came with Irving surpassing 150 yards rushing in Week 5.
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Steelers' Gabriel Rubio working out in the 2026 offseason.
The Tampa Bay running back is going to go against a much tougher defensive front on Sunday when McCarthy's group hits the field at Raymond James Stadium. That front has been the strength of the Pittsburgh defense for several years and this year is proving to be no different.
They had a tremendous game limiting one of the NFL's best running backs in last week's game. If they are going to continue their strong performance when it comes to stopping the run, they will need Rubio to step up big again, especially with the absence of Harmon.
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