5 Steelers Players Who Rose, 3 Who Faltered in Tampa Bay Comeback

Week 6 delivered the kind of drama you only see in movies. The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed Tampa Bay by 13 points late in the third quarter, and most pundits were already penciling in a loss. Then the fourth quarter arrived, and everything changed.

With just under 14 minutes left, the Steelers began a drive that would eventually flip the script. A clutch interception, a timely field goal, and a surge of energy put Pittsburgh ahead 19‑16 with 1:21 remaining. The Buccaneers answered, sending the game into overtime, but the black‑and‑gold weren’t done yet.

In OT, Pittsburgh marched 70 yards down the field. The climax? Wide‑out rookie Germie Bernard sliced into the end zone for his first career touchdown, giving the Steelers a 23‑16 victory. The defense then forced a turnover on downs, sealing the win and moving the team to 4‑2 on the season, ahead of a Paris showdown with the New Orleans Saints.

Winner: Jamel Dean – After missing the previous game with an ankle injury, Dean returned to Tampa Bay and instantly made an impact. He grabbed a critical interception of Jalon Daniels with less than two minutes left in regulation, setting up a short field. Although he didn’t score, his play led to a 20‑yard field goal that nudged Pittsburgh into the lead before overtime. Dean also logged six passes defended, a tidy stat line that underscored his comeback.

Loser: T.J. Watt – The former sack‑machine has been a little quiet lately. After 4.5 sacks through Week 4, Watt was silent against Indianapolis and then managed only two pressures on 37 pass‑rush attempts versus the Buccaneers. He’s still a top‑tier run defender, but the Steelers need more from him when the game hangs in the balance.

Winner: Jalen Ramsey – Ramsey showed up like a one‑man defensive unit. He recorded two sacks (including the final play of the game), piled up four tackles for loss, and finished with ten total tackles – the second‑most on the team. His relentless pursuit helped the Steelers keep the Buccaneers’ offense in check.

Loser: Max Iheanachor – The right tackle struggled against Tampa Bay’s pass rush. He surrendered a sack to David Walker and allowed four additional pressures, a stark contrast to his solid performance against the Colts the week before.

Winner: Germie Bernard – With several offensive weapons sidelined (Pittman, Wilson, Skowronek), Bernard took on a bigger role. He hauled in 11 catches for 87 yards and, most importantly, caught the game‑winning pass in overtime. Even after a shaky start on a 4th‑and‑3, he never lost the coach’s confidence.

Loser: Troy Fautanu – The left tackle’s night mirrored Iheanachor’s woes. He also yielded a sack and four pressures to Walker, making pass protection a big question point for the Steelers’ line.

Winner: Nick Herbig – The young linebacker finally found his rhythm, racking up two sacks, four pressures, and three tackles for loss. Herbig’s burst off the edge helped tip the scales in Pittsburgh’s favor.

Winner: DK Metcalf – Though he didn’t start the game lighting it up, Metcalf delivered when it mattered most. He caught six passes for 51 yards in the fourth quarter, then snagged a crucial 16‑yard catch on 3rd‑and‑13 in overtime. He finished with a career‑high 11 receptions for 93 yards.

All told, the Steelers showed resilience, but the performance chart was mixed. Some players rose to the occasion, while a few linemen still have work to do. Stay tuned for Week 7 in Paris, and don’t forget to catch the “All Steelers Talk” podcast for more analysis.