Steelers vs Buccaneers: position-group matchup

The biggest mismatch: the Steelers pass rush (12th) against the Buccaneers pass protection (32nd).

On paper

4 games in. Samples are still small, so a rank can move a lot in a week. Ranks are out of 32 teams and 1st is always best, on offense and defense alike.

Steelers

pairings with the edge

Buccaneers

pairings with the edge

of 8

On paper, the Steelers hold the edge across the position groups.

Steelers big edge
Steelers pass rush (12th) against the Buccaneers pass protection (32nd)
Steelers big edge
Steelers pass coverage (14th) against the Buccaneers quarterback play (32nd)
Buccaneers edge
Buccaneers pass coverage (19th) against the Steelers quarterback play (25th)

Position group by position group

Each offense against the other team's defense, one position group at a time. Circle: the offense. Diamond: the defense. Whoever sits further right wins that pairing.

Steelers offense vs Buccaneers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Steelers edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers pass protection ranks 23rd. The Buccaneers pass rush ranks 30th.
The numbers and the players
Steelers pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback7.7% (24th)
- Pressure allowed per dropback24% (20th)
- Zach Frazier (C) 100% of snaps
- Mason McCormick (G) 100% of snaps
- Troy Fautanu (T) 100% of snaps
- Max Iheanachor (T) 51% of snaps
- Brock Hoffman (G) 51% of snaps
Buccaneers pass rush
- Sacks per dropback4.5% (25th)
- Pressure per dropback19% (30th)
- Quarterback hits per dropback11.9% (28th)
- David Walker (LB) 3 pressures, 2 sacks
- A'Shawn Robinson (DL) 3 pressures, 1 sacks
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (LB) 3 pressures
Run game vs run defense
Even
WeakestBest
The Steelers run game ranks 10th. The Buccaneers run defense ranks 10th.
The numbers and the players
Steelers run game
- Points added per run+0.00 (7th)
- Runs that keep the drive on track40% (14th)
- Rushing yards after contact2.2 (4th)
- Runs of 10+ yards10.4% (11th)
- Rushing yards before contact2.2 (23rd)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line17% (13th)
- Jaylen Warren (RB) +0.05 per run on 53
- Rico Dowdle (RB) −0.38 per run on 15
- Zach Frazier (C) 100% of snaps
- Mason McCormick (G) 100% of snaps
- Troy Fautanu (T) 100% of snaps
- Max Iheanachor (T) 51% of snaps
- Brock Hoffman (G) 51% of snaps
Buccaneers run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.23 (5th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line22% (6th)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed7.2% (8th)
- Missed tackles11.7% (28th)
- Josiah Trotter (LB) 33 tackles, 3 missed
- Alex Anzalone (LB) 22 tackles, 6 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Buccaneers edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers quarterback play ranks 25th. The Buccaneers pass coverage ranks 19th.
Buccaneers report: Antoine Winfield Jr. (S, out, did not practice, rib); Benjamin Morrison (CB, out, did not practice, quadricep)
The numbers and the players
Steelers quarterback play
- Points added per dropback−0.17 (28th)
- Completions above expected−4.5 (28th)
- Interceptions per throw2.4% (23rd)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback8.3% (12th)
- Aaron Rodgers (QB) −0.16 per dropback on 164
Buccaneers pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw+0.01 (16th)
- Completions allowed above expected+3.8 (26th)
- Interceptions per throw2.3% (14th)
- Zyon McCollum (CB) 108.7 passer rating allowed on 20 targets
- Benjamin Morrison (CB) 77.6 passer rating allowed on 17 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Steelers edge
WeakestBest
The Steelers receiving corps ranks 10th. The Buccaneers pass coverage ranks 18th.
Steelers report: Michael Pittman (WR, did not practice, foot)
Buccaneers report: Antoine Winfield Jr. (S, out, did not practice, rib); Benjamin Morrison (CB, out, did not practice, quadricep)
The numbers and the players
Steelers receiving corps
- Points added per target+0.05 (24th)
- Yards after the catch6.3 (6th)
- Drops per target3.5% (14th)
- Tackles broken per catch9.3% (4th)
- DK Metcalf (WR) −0.03 per target on 32
- Roman Wilson (WR) +0.31 per target on 24
- Jaylen Warren (RB) −0.14 per target on 21
Buccaneers pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed6.7% (10th)
- Passer rating allowed99.3 (22nd)
- Points allowed per throw+0.01 (16th)
- Zyon McCollum (CB) 108.7 passer rating allowed on 20 targets
- Benjamin Morrison (CB) 77.6 passer rating allowed on 17 targets

Buccaneers offense vs Steelers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush
Steelers big edge
WeakestBest
The Buccaneers pass protection ranks 32nd. The Steelers pass rush ranks 12th.
The numbers and the players
Buccaneers pass protection
- Sacks allowed per dropback10.3% (32nd)
- Pressure allowed per dropback26% (27th)
- Graham Barton (C) 100% of snaps
- Ben Bredeson (G) 100% of snaps
- Luke Goedeke (T) 100% of snaps
- Cody Mauch (G) 100% of snaps
- Tristan Wirfs (T) 100% of snaps
Steelers pass rush
- Sacks per dropback7.9% (7th)
- Pressure per dropback21% (24th)
- Quarterback hits per dropback17.3% (10th)
- T.J. Watt (LB) 8 pressures, 4.5 sacks
- Alex Highsmith (LB) 5 pressures, 3 sacks
- Cameron Heyward (DT) 4 pressures
Run game vs run defense
Even
WeakestBest
The Buccaneers run game ranks 15th. The Steelers run defense ranks 22nd.
The numbers and the players
Buccaneers run game
- Points added per run−0.05 (15th)
- Runs that keep the drive on track37% (20th)
- Rushing yards after contact1.5 (18th)
- Runs of 10+ yards6.3% (24th)
- Rushing yards before contact2.8 (8th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line18% (16th)
- Bucky Irving (RB) −0.02 per run on 55
- Kenny Gainwell (RB) −0.30 per run on 13
- Graham Barton (C) 100% of snaps
- Ben Bredeson (G) 100% of snaps
- Luke Goedeke (T) 100% of snaps
- Cody Mauch (G) 100% of snaps
- Tristan Wirfs (T) 100% of snaps
Steelers run defense
- Points allowed per run−0.10 (16th)
- Runs stopped at or behind the line21% (10th)
- Runs of 10+ yards allowed9.9% (19th)
- Missed tackles12.6% (30th)
- Payton Wilson (LB) 34 tackles, 5 missed
- Patrick Queen (LB) 27 tackles, 3 missed
Quarterback vs coverage
Steelers big edge
WeakestBest
The Buccaneers quarterback play ranks 32nd. The Steelers pass coverage ranks 14th.
Buccaneers report: Baker Mayfield (QB, out, did not practice, thumb)
Steelers report: Jamel Dean (CB, did not practice, ankle); Jalen Ramsey (CB, limited in practice, wrist)
The numbers and the players
Buccaneers quarterback play
- Points added per dropback−0.25 (32nd)
- Completions above expected−0.5 (22nd)
- Interceptions per throw3.5% (28th)
- Passes of 20+ yards per dropback5.8% (28th)
- Baker Mayfield (QB) −0.33 per dropback on 108
Steelers pass coverage
- Points allowed per throw+0.03 (18th)
- Completions allowed above expected+2.0 (21st)
- Interceptions per throw3.3% (5th)
- Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) 133.1 passer rating allowed on 19 targets
- Jalen Ramsey (CB) 124.8 passer rating allowed on 18 targets
Receivers vs coverage
Even
WeakestBest
The Buccaneers receiving corps ranks 23rd. The Steelers pass coverage ranks 21st.
Steelers report: Jamel Dean (CB, did not practice, ankle); Jalen Ramsey (CB, limited in practice, wrist)
The numbers and the players
Buccaneers receiving corps
- Points added per target−0.05 (32nd)
- Yards after the catch6.2 (7th)
- Drops per target3.3% (12th)
- Tackles broken per catch1.3% (31st)
- Emeka Egbuka (WR) −0.22 per target on 23
- Cade Otton (TE) +0.13 per target on 23
- Chris Godwin Jr. (WR) +0.33 per target on 18
Steelers pass coverage
- Passes of 20+ yards allowed10.2% (25th)
- Passer rating allowed88.9 (11th)
- Points allowed per throw+0.03 (18th)
- Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) 133.1 passer rating allowed on 19 targets
- Jalen Ramsey (CB) 124.8 passer rating allowed on 18 targets

Tale of the tape

Every unit on its own, side by side.

SteelersBuccaneers

25th
QuarterbackOffense
32nd
21st
Offensive lineOffense
23rd
10th
ReceiversOffense
23rd
7th
Run gameOffense
17th
12th
Pass rushDefense
30th
22nd
Run defenseDefense
10th
17th
Pass coverageDefense
20th

Longer bar is better. Each unit is graded on the stats shown in the pairings above, ranked among all 32 teams.

How these grades are calculated

Each position group is judged on three to five plain stats, listed below. All of them are per play or per throw, never season totals.
Every stat is ranked across all 32 teams, 1st to 32th, the right way round (fewer drops is better, more pressure is better for a pass rush).
A rank becomes a score from 0 to 100, with 1st at 100 and last at 0. The group's grade is the average of its stats' scores.
Teams are ranked by that grade, and that rank is the number on the cards.

For example, the Buccaneers quarterback is 32nd. Its stats rank 32nd (points added per dropback), 22nd (completions above expected), 28th (interceptions per throw), and 28th (passes of 20+ yards per dropback). Averaged, that is a grade of 15 out of 100, which is 32nd among the 32 teams.

This is why a grade can disagree with a total or with another site's rating. A team can rank high in rushing yards because it carries the ball a lot or trails late, and still rank low here because each run adds little. Film grades, like PFF's, come from watching every player on every snap, and these do not. Early in the season a few plays can move a rank a lot.

Quarterback: points added per dropback, completions above expected, interceptions per throw, passes of 20+ yards per dropback
Offensive line: sacks allowed per dropback, pressure allowed per dropback, rushing yards before contact, runs stopped at or behind the line
Receivers: points added per target, yards after the catch, drops per target, tackles broken per catch
Run game: points added per run, runs that keep the drive on track, rushing yards after contact, runs of 10+ yards
Pass rush: sacks per dropback, pressure per dropback, quarterback hits per dropback
Run defense: points allowed per run, runs stopped at or behind the line, runs of 10+ yards allowed, missed tackles
Pass coverage: points allowed per throw, completions allowed above expected, passes of 20+ yards allowed, interceptions per throw, passer rating allowed

The coaches

Records are regular-season games since 1999, against the spread as listed by the games file. A new coach has no history here yet.

Measure	Steelers	Buccaneers
Head coach	Mike McCarthy	Todd Bowles
Record as a head coach	176-114-2 in 292 games	61-78 in 139 games
With this team	2-2 since 2026	35-37 since 2022
Against the spread, this season	2-2	0-3-1
Against the spread, career	158-127-7	61-72-6
Against the spread as an underdog	48-53-2	34-36-4
Against the spread as a favorite	110-74-5	27-36-2
Coming off a bye	12-6	2-6
Head coach against head coach	1-1 against Todd Bowles	1-1 against Mike McCarthy
Team against team since 1999	6-1	1-6

Last meetings, newest first: Steelers 20-18 (2022 Wk 6) · Steelers 30-27 (2018 Wk 3) · Steelers 24-27 (2014 Wk 4) · Steelers 38-13 (2010 Wk 3) · Steelers 20-3 (2006 Wk 13)

How each team plays

Not good or bad, just the style. Ranks go from the highest rate down, so a 1st means the most of it in the league.

How the offenses like to play

Pass rate over expected
Steelers +3.9 pts (3rd highest) — throws more than the situation calls for
Buccaneers −2.0 pts (15th highest)
Play-action share of dropbacks
Steelers 21% (27th highest) — rarely uses play-action
Buccaneers 24% (14th highest)
Plays with pre-snap motion
Steelers 49% (29th highest) — keeps its formations still
Buccaneers 70% (4th highest) — moves players before almost every snap
No-huddle plays
Steelers 10% (5th highest) — hurries to the line
Buccaneers 9% (9th highest)
Plays from the shotgun
Steelers 67% (11th highest)
Buccaneers 67% (9th highest)

How the defenses like to play

Blitz rate
Steelers 28% (17th highest)
Buccaneers 43% (3rd highest) — sends extra rushers often
Pass rushers sent
Steelers 4.3 (19th highest)
Buccaneers 4.6 (3rd highest) — sends the most rushers
Runs against a loaded box (8+)
Steelers 9% (13th highest)
Buccaneers 22% (1st highest) — stacks the box against the run

Who is missing

Each team's latest injury report, with how every player practiced this week. A starter averaged more than half the team's snaps in the games he played.

Steelers

Week 5 report · last changed Fri, Oct 9, 7:24 PM ET

Jamel Dean CBStarterDid not practice · ankle · pass coverage
Practice week: Fri DNP
Michael Pittman WRStarterDid not practice · foot · receivers
Practice week: Fri DNP
Jalen Ramsey CBStarterLimited in practice · wrist · pass coverage
Practice week: Fri Limited
DeShon Elliott SLimited in practice · knee · pass coverage
Practice week: Fri Limited
Rico Dowdle RBLimited in practice · toe · run game
Practice week: Fri Limited

Full practice: Cameron Heyward (DT, not injury related - resting player)

Buccaneers

Week 5 report · last changed Fri, Oct 9, 7:24 PM ET

Antoine Winfield Jr. SStarterOut · rib · pass coverage
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
Baker Mayfield QBStarterOut · thumb · quarterback
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
Benjamin Morrison CBStarterOut · quadricep · pass coverage
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
SirVocea Dennis LBOut · ankle · run defense
Did not practice this week
Practice week: Fri DNP (out)
Anthony Nelson LBLimited in practice · illness · run defense
Practice week: Fri Limited

Full practice: Josiah Trotter (LB, knee); Rueben Bain Jr. (LB, groin); Ko Kieft (TE, elbow)

Teams report practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and issue game designations on Friday. We check the league’s data every few hours from Wednesday to Sunday and keep what we saw, so a player’s practice week starts the first time we saw him; it is not the league’s own day-by-day log. Game-day inactives, announced about 90 minutes before kickoff, are not included.

← All 32 teams

Data: nflverse play-by-play, CC BY 4.0. Ranks use the 2026 regular season through Week 4. Also FTN charting, Pro Football Reference advanced stats, snap counts and injury reports, all through nflverse. Calculations and charts by Raiders Rundown.

More from the Lab

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Steelers vs Buccaneers: position-group matchup

On paper

Steelers pass rush (12th) against the Buccaneers pass protection (32nd)

Steelers pass coverage (14th) against the Buccaneers quarterback play (32nd)

Buccaneers pass coverage (19th) against the Steelers quarterback play (25th)

Position group by position group

Steelers offense vs Buccaneers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Buccaneers offense vs Steelers defense

Pass protection vs pass rush

Run game vs run defense

Quarterback vs coverage

Receivers vs coverage

Tale of the tape

The coaches

How each team plays

Who is missing

Steelers

Buccaneers

More from the Lab