Tampa Bay have conceded 17 sacks in five games, second only to Cleveland. Our Steelers vs Buccaneers prediction sends T.J. Watt and an 11-sack front at them.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-2 with a point differential of +2. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 1-4 and have scored 100 points, and their 78.0 passer rating is among the five lowest in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pittsburgh SteelersSquawka60%Market56%▲ Value
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Steelers vs Buccaneers: our editor’s props
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Steelers vs Buccaneers: 2026 form so far
A pass rush against a line that has not held. The table measures each attack against what the opposite defense has actually conceded.
Steelers attack against the Buccaneers defense
| Per game | Steelers offense | Buccaneers allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 223.4 | 226.6 |
| Rushing yards | 101.2 | 72.8 |
| Yards per carry | 4.7 | 3.3 |
| Passer rating | 88.0 | 88.3 |
| Touchdowns | 2.4 | 2.2 |
| Third-down conversion | 32.8% | 33.9% |
| Red-zone conversion | 54.5% | 53.8% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 2.8 | 1.2 |
Buccaneers attack against the Steelers defense
| Per game | Buccaneers offense | Steelers allow |
|---|---|---|
| Passing yards | 173.4 | 220.8 |
| Rushing yards | 133.0 | 103.4 |
| Yards per carry | 4.9 | 4.0 |
| Passer rating | 78.0 | 86.7 |
| Touchdowns | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Third-down conversion | 38.2% | 32.8% |
| Red-zone conversion | 47.1% | 50.0% |
| Sacks conceded / recorded | 3.4 | 2.2 |
Figures are season to date, across 5 games.
Seventeen sacks conceded in five games is second only to Cleveland, and Tampa Bay’s 78.0 passer rating is what happens to a quarterback under that much pressure.
Steelers vs Buccaneers quarterback matchup
Pittsburgh rate 88.0 through the air to Tampa Bay’s 78.0, and the Steelers have thrown ten touchdown passes to the Buccaneers’ four.
| Team | Quarterback | Last game | Season to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | Aaron Rodgers | 19/34, 292 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT, 101.6 rtg | 88/153, 999 yds, 7 TD, 4 INT, 81.6 rtg (4 games) |
| Buccaneers | Baker Mayfield | 17/34, 217 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 67.9 rtg | 61/96, 615 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT, 80.0 rtg (3 games) |
| Jalon Daniels | 0/3, 0 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT, 0.0 rtg | 19/30, 148 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT, 46.9 rtg (2 games) |
Steelers vs Buccaneers injury report and team news
T.J. Watt has four sacks in a Pittsburgh front that has recorded 11.
Jaylen Warren has 410 rushing yards at 4.69 a carry, joint sixth in the NFL.
Tampa Bay’s quarterback situation will be settled by Friday’s designations.
Pittsburgh SteelersTampa Bay BuccaneersSeventeen sacks and counting
Tampa Bay have conceded 17 sacks in five games. Only Cleveland have given up more, and the knock-on is everywhere in their numbers: four touchdown passes, a 78.0 rating, 100 points.
Pittsburgh are built to make that worse. Eleven sacks as a team with T.J. Watt on four, and a secondary conceding an 86.7 opponent rating that does not need to be brilliant if the quarterback never gets time.
The Buccaneers do run it well, 665 rushing yards at 4.89 a carry, and that is the one path to keeping this close. Pittsburgh concede 4.04, so the opportunity exists.
Players to watch
- Jaylen Warren (PIT, RB): 410 rushing yards at 4.69 a carry, joint sixth in the NFL.
- T.J. Watt (PIT, LB): Four sacks against a line that has conceded 17.
- Bucky Irving (TB, RB): 406 rushing yards at 4.89 a carry as a team.
- Chris Godwin Jr. (TB, WR): A senior target in an offense rating 78.0 through the air.
How to watch Steelers vs Buccaneers
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 18 at Raymond James Stadium, which is 12:00 PM CT and 10:00 AM PT. CBS has the regional broadcast.
| Detail | Steelers vs Buccaneers |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT |
| Venue | Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL |
| TV | CBS |
| Live stream | NFL+ / Paramount+ |
| Week | Week 6, 2026 NFL season |
Steelers vs Buccaneers prediction and score projection
Pittsburgh win 23-17. Tampa Bay’s line has not held all season and the Steelers are equipped to exploit exactly that.
Signal carries the live number for this game, and it moves as team news arrives.
Every Week 6 game, previewed
| Kickoff (ET) | Game | Our prediction | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 8:15 PM | Seahawks @ Broncos | Seahawks 24-20 | Read |
| Sun 9:30 AM | Texans @ Jaguars | Jaguars 27-17 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Ravens @ Browns | Ravens 27-16 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Panthers @ Eagles | Panthers 24-20 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Bears @ Falcons | Bears 23-20 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Saints @ Giants | Giants 26-20 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Jets @ Patriots | Patriots 24-17 | Read |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Steelers @ Buccaneers | Steelers 23-17 | You are here |
| Sun 1:00 PM | Titans @ Colts | Colts 23-13 | Read |
| Sun 4:05 PM | Cardinals @ Rams | Rams 30-20 | Read |
| Sun 4:25 PM | Bills @ Raiders | Bills 30-27 | Read |
| Sun 4:25 PM | Chargers @ Chiefs | Chiefs 31-13 | Read |
| Sun 8:20 PM | Cowboys @ Packers | Packers 27-24 | Read |
| Mon 8:15 PM | Commanders @ 49ers | 49ers 31-17 | Read |
You can find our pick record alongside our wider NFL analysis. The outright markets are priced in the NFC board. Individual lines are covered in prop markets for this game.
Steelers vs Buccaneers FAQ
Pittsburgh. The Steelers are 3-2 at +2; Tampa Bay are 1-4 at -12.
1:00 PM ET on Sunday, October 18, at Raymond James Stadium.
Seventeen in five games, second only to Cleveland.
The run game: 665 rushing yards at 4.89 a carry, with Bucky Irving on 406.
21+ | Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER | Signal probabilities and odds approximate at time of writing and subject to change