The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to keep the momentum going this Sunday after finally snagging their first W of the season against the Cowboys. They’re back home at Raymond James Stadium to face quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
The current vibe
After a massive road win last week, rookie backup quarterback Jalon Daniels is steering the ship for the Bucs. Real talk: it was an impressive victory, but the Bucs are still working through some major deficiencies. The Steelers' offense hasn't exactly been electric either, sitting just below average, so don't expect a blowout.
The stats to know
The market is lowkey torn on this one. On Polymarket, a Steelers win is currently trading at 57%, while the Bucs sit at 44%. The SportsLine Projection Model is keeping things interesting, suggesting the Bucs have a 54% chance of either winning outright or losing by fewer than 2.5 points. If you're looking at the total, the model predicts the teams will combine for 40+ points 66% of the time, though the current market is split right down the middle on whether it stays under or goes over 39 points.
Why it matters
This game is giving 'defensive slog.' With Tampa Bay’s defense currently ranked seventh in the league, they might just keep this low-scoring enough to give Daniels a fighting chance. It’s a huge litmus test to see if the Bucs can actually stack wins or if the Cowboys game was just a fluke.
