The Steelers just snagged a huge overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, battling back on the road to push their record to a sweet 4-2 on the season. What a game, seriously. You gotta love a comeback story, especially one where new blood steps up big time.
Receivers Went From Zero to Hero in a Half
Listen, everyone knew Pittsburgh was hurting at wide receiver going into Week 6 against Tampa Bay. Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are stuck on injured reserve, Ben Skowronek was out, and even DK Metcalf was dealing with an illness earlier in the week. And man, in that first half, it showed. The passing offense was straight anemic. Aaron Rodgers looked anything but confident trying to find options downfield. Even rookie Germie Bernard, who’s clearly the WR2 now, had a tough moment, moving backward after a fourth-down conversion and handing the Bucs the ball back on a turnover on downs. Beyond Metcalf and Bernard, not a single other receiver got a catch, or even a target, for four quarters. Yeah, some of that was probably the game plan, but it also screamed a lack of confidence in the depth.
But hold up, because the second half was a totally different movie. Both Metcalf and Bernard absolutely rose to the occasion. Each of them hauled in a whopping 11 catches by the time the final buzzer screamed! Metcalf ended up with 93 yards, while the rookie snagged 87 and scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime. And get this, that OT play only worked because Metcalf threw a crucial block for Bernard. Talk about stepping up when it counts!
Bernard and Metcalf Showed Up When It Mattered Most
Let’s talk about Bernard for a sec. Yeah, he’s still making some young-player mistakes, and breaking tackles in the pros isn’t as easy as it was in college, but he’s largely looking like that same possession and yards-after-catch monster we saw before. Rodgers is famous for taking his sweet time warming up to rookie pass catchers, but Bernard was a safety blanket against the Buccaneers. Sure, the injuries ahead of him helped him shoot up the depth chart, but his raw ability and that high football IQ definitely played a huge role too. The kid can play, full stop.
Then there’s Metcalf. With so many teammates out, he needed to look like a WR1 on Sunday. It took him a bit to get rolling, but he was a steady presence on offense, making key plays. He didn’t connect with Rodgers on any deep balls, but Metcalf recorded five first downs in a game where those were precious for Pittsburgh’s offense. He might not have looked like a superstar this season overall, but he’s now hit 90-plus yards in two of the last three games. Metcalf has definitely rebounded from what was a dismal start to the season. Oh, and shoutout to Jamel Dean for a great revenge game, too!
What’s next for Pittsburgh? You gotta keep this momentum going, for sure. You gotta be hyped seeing how this receiving corps can fight through adversity and deliver when it counts. That 4-2 record feels real good right now, and with these guys getting hot, things are looking bright.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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