This Sunday’s game with the Steelers and Bucs will feature two of the NFL’s best teams at protecting the football and causing turnovers. The Steelers are number one in turnover differential at plus-6. The Bucs are tied for fourth in the NFL at plus-4 in the turnover differential. The Buccaneers offense is focused on keeping the ball secure, and taking advantage of any turnovers their defense produces.

“It is huge, they are missing one of their main weapons in their starting quarterback,” said center Jeff Faine. “For us to be able to take care of the ball on offense, and keep it out of their defenses’ hands and create some takeaways on defense is a huge, huge benefit to get us an opportunity to win the game. There definitely is going to be premium on possessions, and preventing turnovers on our end on offense, and creating some turnovers on defense.”

Tampa Bay knows the importance of beating the NFL’s best in the turnover battle to effect the outcome on Sunday.

“I think every game it is important to protect the ball. If you look at the stats from past years the team that turns the ball over the least is the team that wins games,” said left tackle Donald Penn. “In any circumstance you have to protect the ball and keep the ball.”