The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6.
The Bucs are coming off their first win of the season, but they still sit at 1-4. They’re just 1.5 games back in a weak NFC South division, so a second-straight win on Sunday would give Tampa Bay a real chance to make a run in the second half of the season, especially with Baker Mayfield preparing to return from injury in the coming weeks. But if the Buccaneers lose and fall to 1-5, it might be time to get real about where this team is at and start firing up the mock drafts.
If the Buccaneers are going to pull off an upset victory over the Steelers, they’ll need a few key players to deliver big-time performances, and I’m predicting that they’ll do exactly that.
3 bold predictions for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6
Zyon McCollum records an interception
Zyon McCollum is playing at an All-Pro level, shutting down some of the NFL's premier wide receivers including Ja'Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb. The one thing missing from his résumé is an interception.
Aaron Rodgers rarely turns the ball over, but he struggles more against the Buccaneers than he does against just about any other opponent. He's thrown 11 interceptions in seven career games against Tampa Bay. He's only had six three-interception games in his career, and two of those have come against the Buccaneers. Most notably, he’s thrown at least one interception in all three meetings with Tampa Bay since Todd Bowles began coaching the defense in 2019.
If history is any indication, the Bucs will have opportunities to create turnovers against Rodgers, and McCollum will capitalize by notching his first interception of the season. Bonus points if he takes it back for six.
Bucky Irving rushes for 100+ yards again
Bucky Irving was the key to the Buccaneers’ first win of the season, notching 175 total yards and two touchdowns against the Dallas Cowboys. If they’re going to pull off another upset with rookie Jalon Daniels at the helm, they'll need another strong showing from the rushing attack.
That starts up front with the offensive line, and last week, they finally looked like the elite unit they’re advertised to be. They protected the quarterback and opened up huge holes in the running game.
They’ll make a statement this week against a physical Steelers defense, paving the way for Irving to rush for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game.
Bucs rush defense completely shuts down Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren is playing at a high level for the Steelers, and Pittsburgh’s offense has run through him in recent weeks. He’s rushed for 90 or more yards in three straight games, and even led the team with 87 receiving yards last week.
But he faces his toughest test yet against a Buccaneers defense that ranks second in the NFL in rush defense, allowing just 72.8 yards per game. Something has to give here as the unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
Shutting down Warren would go a long way in helping the Buccaneers win their second straight game, and Vita Vea and Co. will get the job done, stifling the Steelers’ run game and holding Warren under 50 rushing yards.
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