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Steelers vs. Buccaneers score, takeaways: Mitch Trubisky lifts Pittsburgh after Kenny Pickett injury

Trubisky made several key plays as the Steelers ended their four-game losing skid

PITTSBURGH -- Kenny Pickett's first career start included just about everything, including Pittsburgh's rookie quarterback leaving the game with a concussion midway through the third quarter. Pickett's backup, Mitch Trubisky, made sure that his teammate would win his first home start, as Trubisky made several key plays down the stretch to complete the Steelers' 20-18 upset win over the Buccaneers. 

Pickett led the Steelers to a 13-12 lead after starting the game with his first career touchdown pass on a 6-yard strike to Najee Harris. Following Pickett's exit, Trubisky extended the Steelers' lead by firing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chase Claypool with 9:55 left. Following a Buccaneers score, two third-and-long conversions from Trubisky to Claypool clinched the Steelers' first home win of the 2022 season. 

Here's a closer look at how the Steelers pulled off the upset while winning their first game since Week 1. 

Why the Steelers won 

Pittsburgh played complementary football. The offense took advantage of key stops by the defense, while the Steelers' special teams units also played a crucial role in the win. 

Among the Steelers' big special teams plays was Chris Boswell's 55-yard field goal in the first half and Steven Sims' 89-yard kickoff return to open the second half. Sims' return set up Boswell's second field goal while extending the Steelers' lead to 13-9. 

Despite playing without several starters, the Steelers defense was able to provide pressure on Brady while coming up with key plays in the secondary. 

Why the Buccaneers lost 

Penalties and a lack of offensive rhythm doomed the Buccaneers, who have lost three of their last four games after a 2-0 start. 

Brady eventually found his rhythm after completing less than half of his first-half pass attempts. But the running game never got going, as the Buccaneers averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry. 

While they played well for most of the game, the Buccaneers defense's inability to stop Trubisky after he replaced Pickett sealed its fate. 

Turning point 

Pittsburgh's offense was struggling when Pickett exited the game. But the Steelers' defense picked things up by forcing consecutive three-and-outs following Pickett's exit. 

Trubisky rewarded his defense by hitting George Pickens for 14 yards on a third-and-13 play. He then hit Connor Heyward downfield for a 45-yard gain before throwing a strike to Claypool to stretch the Steelers' lead to eight points. 

Play of the game 

Devin Bush's deflection of Brady's two-point pass to Chris Godwin with 4:38 left might be his biggest play as a Steeler to date. The play was certainly vindication for Bush, a former first-round pick who has dealt with some challenges after suffering a major knee injury in 2020. 

Quotable 

"I think that we're flipping something right now. I think we're flipping the page and becoming a great team. We've got to keep stacking bricks and keep going after it." -- Najee Harris on the current state of the Steelers 

What's next 

Tampa Bay will remain on the road next week. The Buccaneers will be in Charlotte next Sunday to face a Panthers team that recently fired coach Matt Rhule. Carolina fell to 1-5 on Sunday after dropping a 24-10 decision to the Rams. 

The Steelers will take their talents to South Beach to face the Dolphins on Sunday night. The Dolphins, who are 3-3 after losing to the Vikings on Sunday, will have Tua Tagovailoa back under center after he missed Miami's last two games with a concussion. 

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Live updates
 
Pinned

Here's a look at the play that led to Pickett leaving the game. Pickett has been ruled OUT with a concussion. 
 

Steven Sims with an 89-yard kickoff return to start the second half. Steelers will start things on their own 12-yard-line. 

 

Steelers getting the ball to start the second half. 

 

First half stats 

Score: Steelers 10, Buccaneers 9 
First downs: Buccaneers 10-8
Third down: TB 1-6, Steelers 2-7
Total yards: TB 138-104
Red zone: TB 0-2, Steelers 1-1 

Pickett: 10-15, 62 yards, 1 TD
Brady: 10-21, 110, 2 sacks 
Evans: 3 catches, 38 yards
Harris: 8 carries, 20 yards 

 

Brady had Brate wide open but instead threw deep and incomplete. Brate would have had a chance to get out of bounds while giving Succop a better FG try. He made it, however, as the Buccaneers trim halftime deficit to 10-9. 

 

Brady finally hits Godwin, for 14 yards, as the Buccaneers get to the Steelers' 36 with 10 seconds left. 

 

Steelers punt again after going conservative on the drive's last two plays. Buccaneers have the ball at their own 48 with no timeouts and 23 seconds until halftime. 

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Highsmith drills Brady, forcing a fumble that TB is able to recover. 

 

Here was Boswell's 55-yard FG. 
 

Bucs will get another chance with the ball this half after a quick Steelers three and out. Pickett couldn't find anyone open despite good protection from his line. 

 

Bucs will punt again after Brady and Godwin can't connect on a third down throw. Brady taken down on the play, as the Steelers have done a decent job providing consistent pressure on him. 

 

The kick hits the lower crossbar and bounces in. It's 10-6 Steelers with 4:06 left until halftime. 

 

Steelers offense goes conservative after Dotson's holding call put them back to the Bucs' 46. Boswell will try to salvage things with a 55-yard FG. 

 

Diontae Johnson just made the half's most impressive play, a 9-yard catch that saw him stay in bounds on the near side. Steelers closing in on Boswell's FG range. 

 

Steelers offense showing signs of improvement today, but still not great as far as North-South running. 

 

Mason Cole is down after suffering an apparent injury. J.C. Hassenauer will replace him, at least temporarily. 

 

Pickett's mobility really adding a new wrinkle to the Steelers' offense. He's had two good runs this half when no one was open downfield. 

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Bucs get another FG, making it a 7-6 game three minutes into the second quarter. 

 

Malik Reed sacks Brady on third and goal, as Pittsburgh's defense again steps up in the red zone. Credit to Ogunjobi for stuffing Fournette for a three-yard loss on the previous play. 

 

Brady picks on James Pierre on second-and-9, hitting Russell Gage on an inside route for an 11-yard gain. 

 

Steelers lead Tampa 7-3 after 1, but Buccaneers will start the second with a first down on the Steelers' 25. 

 

Brady finally connects with Godwin, who took a wicked shot by Norwood but was able to secure the catch. 

 

Steelers go backward on their second drive. Antoine Winfield Jr. sacks Pickett for a 12-yard loss on third down. Bucs have great field position to start their third drive, starting on their own 46. 

 

Steelers have to burn a timeout after some sort of miscommunication in the huddle. Zach Gentry was clearly frustrated. 

 

Bucs salvage a FG after stalling in the red zone. Another nice breakout by Norwood on Brady's third-down pass attempt to Godwin. 

 

As expected, Fournette a big part of the Bucs' offense today, especially in the passing game. He has six touches so far including his first catch just moments ago. 

 

Brady hits Evans for 20 for his first completion of the game. Buccaneers deep in Steelers territory on their second drive. 

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Pickett 5 of 5 for 37 yards and a TD on the drive. He completed passes to four different teammates (Johnson, Harris, Claypool and Pickens). 

 

That is also Kenny Pickett's first career TD pass. 

 

Steelers take 7-0 on Pickett's TD pass to Najee Harris. Harris was uncovered coming out of the backfield on the far side. 
 

Good decision by Pickett to run on fourth down ... Jaylen Warren picks up the first down on fourth-and-1. 

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