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.