Scouting the Steelers' Week 6 opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tribune-Review
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 4:32 p.m. | Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022 4:32 p.m.

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Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls a play during the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.

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Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) works in the pocket during the first half against the Falcons on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.

Here’s a look at the Steelers’ Week 6 opponent:

The basics

Coach: Todd Bowles, first season (29-43 career)

Record: 3-2

Division: NFC South, first place

Wins: Cowboys (19-3), Saints (20-10), Falcons (21-15)

Losses: Packers (14-12), Chiefs (41-31)

Stat leaders

Passing: Tom Brady, 141-207, 1,409 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT

Rushing: Leonard Fournette, 74-280 yards, 1 TD

Receiving: Mike Evans, 20-316 yards, 3 TDs

Tackles: Devin White, 40

Sacks: White, 3

Interceptions: Jamel Dean, 2

2022 storylines

• Tom Brady retired … for 40 days. The GOAT of NFL quarterbacks had a change of heart and decided to return for a 23rd season as he looks to add to his record collection of seven Super Bowl titles. He certainly isn’t in his prime but is still quite productive at age 44. He completed 35 of 52 passes for 351 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 21-15 victory over Atlanta.

• Much like the Steelers, Tampa Bay is dealing with a battered and bruised secondary. Carlos Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Mike Edwards were each injured against Atlanta. Fellow DB Logan Ryan missed the game with a hamstring injury. Veteran wide receiver Julio Jones also is dealing with an injury.

• One healthy member of the defensive backfield is safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who made eight tackles and had a sack, two tackles for loss, a pass defensed and a forced fumble in Sunday’s win over the Falcons.

“I say it all the time: he’s an old-school football player,” coach Todd Bowles told reporters after the game. “He just loves to play the game. He smiles when he’s out there, he understands it, he plays fast, he loves it. If he could be out there 24 hours a day, he probably would.”

"If he could be out there 24 hours a day, he probably would."

????️: HC Todd Bowles on @AntoineWJr11 pic.twitter.com/QiwgXsuTV9

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 10, 2022

• Mike Evans is one of the NFL’s top receivers and continues to make an impact in his ninth season. He was suspended for a game earlier this season for his role in a fight during Tampa Bay’s win over the Saints when he stepped in to defend Brady. The week he returned, he set the career franchise record for yards from scrimmage. He also holds team records for overall touchdowns (78), receiving touchdowns (78), receptions (626) and receiving yards (9,617 yards).

HIM

????: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/iUtoNIic44

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2022

"He's a warrior. He's the heart and soul of our offense right now."

????: HC Todd Bowles on @MikeEvans13_ pic.twitter.com/yjg8a13Bf4

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2022

• Todd Bowles was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach in March after former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians shifted to a senior football consultant role. Bowles was an interim head coach in Miami in 2011 and also was head coach for the Jets for four seasons, going 24-40 between 2015-18. He joined Tampa Bay as defensive coordinator in 2019.

Steelers vs. Tom Brady

• Brady has a record of 12-3 against the Steelers, all while playing for New England, including three wins in the playoffs (2001, ’04, ’16). The Steelers earned wins against Brady’s Patriots in 2004 (34-20), 2011 (25-17) and 2018 (17-10).

• In 12 regular-season meetings, Brady has thrown for 3,744 yards and 29 touchdowns, with five interceptions, against the Steelers. That’s an average of 312 yards.

Last meeting

• The Steelers won 30-27 in the most recent meeting Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium. The Steelers held a 30-10 lead at halftime before Tampa Bay rallied with 17 points in the second half. Chris Godwin and Evans each caught TD passes from Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter.

For the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger threw a 75-yard TD to Vance McDonald, a 27-yard strike to Antonio Brown and a 1-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Switzer.

• The Steelers lead the all-time series with the Bucs, 9-2. The Steelers have outscored Tampa Bay, 263-158.

Facts and figures

1 — Interceptions this season for QB Tom Brady. Steelers quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, by comparison, have thrown six this season.

268 — Career solo tackles for linebacker Devin White, who has become one of the NFL’s most productive defenders. The fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft out of LSU, White has 26 solo stops and three sacks this season, both team highs. He also has 45 quarterback hits and 32 tackles for loss in his four-year NFL career.

10 — Team-high receptions for running back Leonard Fournette in Sunday’s win over Atlanta.

Make that ✌️ for Sunday afternoon Lenny

????: #ATLvsTB on FOX pic.twitter.com/12L4zARs9B

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2022

"He can do it all."

????: @MikeEvans13_ on @_fournette pic.twitter.com/t1btJbUtdJ

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 9, 2022

4 — Teams that fifth-year outside linebacker Genard Avery has played for after being moved to Tampa Bay’s active roster for this week’s game. He signed with the Bucs in late August after starting training camp with the Steelers before being released. The Bucs also signed former Steelers linebacker Ulysees Gilbert to the practice squad this week.