Looking to win back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 5 and 6 last season, the 1-4 Bucs return home to Raymond James Stadium this Sunday to host the 3-2 Steelers.

The Bucs have historically struggled against the Steelers, having won just two of 12 all-time regular season meetings between the two teams. Only once has Tampa Bay beaten Pittsburgh at Raymond James Stadium, and that was back in 1998, the debut season for the “New Sombrero.” Not to mention, Todd Bowles and Co. are 0-3 at home so far in 2026. The Bucs did just win their first game of the season in Week 4 and enjoyed a mini bye week after the Thursday night primetime game, so they should be well rested and ready to build on whatever momentum they gained in Dallas when they take the field Sunday afternoon for the first time in 10 days.

Meanwhile, Mike McCarthy and his Steelers team come in looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season as well. Pittsburgh won its season opener against Atlanta, lost at New England, beat Cincinnati, lost at Cleveland and then beat Indianapolis last Sunday, so it’s been an inconsistent start to McCarthy’s first season in charge. He and his squad will also be looking for their first road win of the year on try No. 3.

Off the back of a more general preview Thursday morning, let’s dive further into what might decide this matchup, as well as some key players to watch in this Week 6 contest between the Bucs and Steelers at Ray Jay.

What Might Decide This Bucs-Steelers Matchup?

Even with their Thursday night win over the Cowboys in Week 5, the Bucs didn’t necessarily rejuvenate their fans in a meaningful way with just one victory. They’re still 1-4. They’re two weeks removed from wrapping up an 0-3 homestand. And after having their home stadium taken over by Vikings fans in Week 3 and Packers fans in Week 4, they’re likely about to see more of the same from Steelers fans — Terrible Towels and all — this Sunday.

That’s why it’s critical to start fast in this game, as that’ll give the Bucs fans who are showing up something meaningful to get on board with and loud about while taking some of the wind out of the sails for those who will be showing up in black and yellow. Take a quick 7-0 or 10-0 lead and you’ll have the home fans back up off the mat and with you. Fall behind or get off to a slow, disjointed start? It’ll feel like more of the same and “here we go again…”

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

One potential way to get things going early from an offensive standpoint could be Zac Robinson having something — anything — dialed up for one of his playmaking receivers. Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr. and Ted Hurst III are still far too invisible in this offense, and an early target for even two of the three could help Jalon Daniels get in a rhythm from the get-go and ignite the home crowd. There’s been little to nothing in terms of a vertical attack under Robinson’s direction, and if this offense is ever really going to get off the ground, that’s something that needs to emerge.

Generally speaking, though, Robinson would be wise to once again lean on Bucky Irving and the Bucs ground game. Irving had 21 carries in that win over Dallas and went for 165 yards and a touchdown while also recording a receiving touchdown. Even outside of his game-changing 72-yard run early in the third quarter, Irving averaged a healthy 4.7 yards per carry in that game. Granted, Pittsburgh has a far better run defense than Dallas, but if the Bucs offense is going to succeed in this one, it’ll need to go through Irving. And hey, maybe find a better way to deploy former Steelers team MVP Kenny Gainwell as he matches up against his former team?

For the Tampa Bay defense, finding a way to get some pressure on 42-year-old Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a must. The Bucs still have just six sacks in five games and have been held without a quarterback capture completely in back-to-back games, but Rodgers is understandably far less mobile than he used to be and has been sacked 14 times in five games this year. He’s also spoken in the past about the difficulty of facing the pressure packages Todd Bowles can dial up. Bowles’ defenses have tended to have Rodgers’ number in the past, and that’ll have to continue Sunday if the Bucs are going to have a shot at a second straight win.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The other big key for the Bucs defense, as usual, is to take the football away. Rodgers has five touchdowns to four interceptions against Bowles’ Bucs defenses in three prior meetings, and this is a unit that is coming off a two-interception performance against the Cowboys. Those two picks came from unlikely sources in Yaya Diaby and Alex Anzalone, but Tampa Bay will take any turnovers it can get in this one. With how much Jacob Parrish, Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith have been around the football, one of them is due for a splash play soon.

For the Steelers offense, it’s all about Rodgers getting the ball out quick and beating the Buccaneer defense with his mind both pre-snap and on the fly. Opposing offenses have managed to completely neutralize the Tampa Bay pass rush thus far in 2026, with some of them putting a big emphasis on getting the ball out in a quick 2-3 seconds. If Rodgers can do that by leaning on running back Jaylen Warren and tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, it’ll help him stay upright and keep the Pittsburgh offense on schedule.

Speaking of Freiermuth, there’ll be a lot of pressure on both him and DK Metcalf to produce in this one. The Bucs have the No. 2 run defense in the NFL and have stifled opposing running backs for the most part, so it may be tough sledding for Warren and Rico Dowdle, should he suit up and play after missing the last three games. Plus, with third-leading receiver Roman Wilson out injured, the production is going to have to come from somewhere.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth and QB Aaron Rodgers – Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Freiermuth is the likely candidate given the Bucs’ struggles with tight ends, though they’ve done a much better job in that department over the last three weeks. And with the way Tampa Bay handled Ja’Marr Chase in Week 1 and CeeDee Lamb last week, it’ll feel confident about its plan for Metcalf. So, there’s a lot riding on Freiermuth and Metcalf to win their matchups and help the Steelers get down the field. Otherwise, it’ll be a lot of short, quick-game plays to Warren out of the backfield.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers pass rush will need to come to play and make life difficult for the Bucs’ rookie quarterback. Daniels has been remarkably poised up to this point and has been good about escaping pressure and making plays with his legs, and the Pittsburgh defense will need to clamp down on that to make sure it’s getting off the field on third downs. A big play from T.J. Watt would help, but a lot of the damage could come from the interior via veteran Cameron Heyward given the struggles of Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson early in 2026.

Key Players To Watch

As much as the Bucs need to keep feeding Bucky Irving (77 carries, 406 yards, 2 TD, 5.3 avg.) in Sunday’s game, they could really benefit from getting Kenny Gainwell going, too. He has just 44 yards on 17 carries (2.6 avg.) and only has 11 catches on 16 targets for 54 yards (4.9 avg.) and a touchdown as a receiver in 2026. It’s been easy to forget that this is a guy who was the Steelers’ team MVP a year ago with 537 rushing yards, 486 receiving yards and 633 kick return yards with eight total touchdowns. Maybe he’ll have his coming-out party with the Bucs against his former team in Week 6.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish and Cowboys WR George Pickens – Photo by: IMAGN Images via Reuters Connect

Jacob Parrish was everywhere for the Bucs last Thursday night against the Cowboys, racking up four passes defensed. He’s up to seven passes defensed and an interception for Tampa Bay through five games of the season and has really been one of the defense’s most consistent performers, and that’s after making the move from nickel cornerback in 2025 to the outside in 2026. He’ll need to be on it again this Sunday, and a second interception on the year would be huge for the second-year corner and his team.

Pat Freiermuth has been a big-time presence for the Steelers offense for nearly six years now, and he’s off to another strong start in 2026. He’s just the fourth-leading pass-catcher for Pittsburgh with 19 catches on 27 targets for 169 yards and is only averaging 8.9 yards per catch, but he also leads the team with four touchdowns. Not to mention, he’s coming off his best game of the season, having caught five of his seven targets for 44 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over the Colts.

T.J. Watt is still one of the best and most feared pass rushers in the NFL at 31 years old. He has 119.5 career sacks and has registered double-digit sacks in six of his first nine seasons in the league. He’s well on his way to making it seven out of 10 this year, as he has 4.5 sacks through five games. He’ll draw a tough matchup against Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke when rushing from the left side (his preferred side) and get an even tougher look if/when he lines up on the right, as left tackle Tristan Wirfs will be waiting for him. Watt vs. Goedeke and Watt vs. Wirfs are both must-watch matchups in this game.