By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
TAMPA BAY FL–-Legendary NFL Films Narrator John Facenda once quoted this about the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers: “Great teams aren’t always great, they’re just great when they have to be.” As we know, that Steelers team went on to win Super Bowl 14, their 4th Championship in 6 years.
Such a quote can be applied to the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers as they traveled to Tampa Bay to face the 1-4 Buccaneers. For the first 3 quarters, all the Steelers offense could muster up was 3 points against a Buccaneers team that started rookie QB Jalon Daniels for the 4th game since the injury of Baker Mayfield.
But as the Steelers entered the 4th quarter down 16-3, they realized that it was time to be ‘great’ as they scored 16 unanswered points that led the way to an incredible 26-19 win in front of mostly Steeler fans (and their Terrible Towels) at Raymond James Stadium.
“Oh, four and two. I think you are what your record is. I believe that – I live that and I pay close attention to that. We needed a win on the road, and we got it done today,” said Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. “This is a big step for us. We needed to stack two wins in a row; that’s another big step. Those are chunks of confidence that you gain as a football team.”
In the 4th quarter, it seemed like the Steelers were gaining more confidence on each drive as QB Aaron Rodgers (33/49, 253 yards) put his team on his back and led the way with 2 TD passes, one to TE Darnell Washington and the other to rookie WR Germie Bernard (11 rec, 87 yards) who scored his first NFL TD to give the Steelers a 26-19 lead in Overtime. The other points came off the foot of K Chris Boswell, who nailed 3 FGs, including a 58-yarder that he had to redo because of the 2:00 warning.
WR DK Matcalf caught 11 passes for 93 yards and RBs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle rushed for a combined 98 yards for the Steelers (4-2).
“Yeah, I just love everything he’s doing.” McCarthy said of Barnard. “I mean he’s accepted the challenge. We have a lot on his plate and he’s handling it. And yes, I mean decision-making and that’s why we break decisions up, whether it’s assignment or decision-making and that’s football. If he breaks that tackle then you’re applauding him, but we have fundamentals that we practice in those situations and he’ll learn from that one in particular, but no, he’s playing really good football for us.”
On Metcalf, McCarthy replied, “Just frankly, I thought Aaron [Rodgers] did a good job getting him the ball. We got into some X-select routes on the backside and called some quick things to him. But I thought Aaron [Rodgers] did a very good job making a conscious effort getting him the ball down the stretch.”
The Steelers defense also contributed to that miraculous 4th quarter as CBs Daylen Everette and Jamel Dean intercepted Daniels (22/43, 164 yards, TD, 2 INT). LB Nick Herbig added a sack, his 2nd of the game and in overtime, CB Jalen Ramsey’s 2nd sack on 4th down preserved the victory for the Steelers.
“We needed to. We all needed it. The coaches needed it, the players needed it [and] everybody wanted it. It really didn’t matter who we were playing today,” said McCarthy. “The young man, I thought he (Jalon Daniels) played well for being where he is in his NFL journey. The pressure part of it is important. We committed to it in the spring and in training camp. So, it was what we all wanted. I was glad to see us get at the pressure menu a little more.”
The Steelers will now return to Pittsburgh and prepare for a greater trip-Paris France as they will face the New Orleans Saints for the NFL’s first international game in France. As great of an opportunity this is for the Steelers, it remains business as usual as they continue to battle in an AFC North Division where all 4 teams are above .500.
“I thought our guys did a really good job running the ball and could probably use some more attempts at the plate there, but tough win,” said McCarthy. “They’re never easy. Most importantly, I thought the crowd was phenomenal. To see the Terrible Towels show up and especially at the key parts of the game in the 4th quarter and overtime. That was special, that’s a special road win.”
Notes: McCarthy ended the first half going into the medical tent after limping off the field: “Don’t recommend it. It’s really hot in there.” He said. “I got my foot stepped on and we have a really good medical staff. So, I just communicated from the tent to the locker room.”
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