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The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Tampa Bay this weekend looking to build on their 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. While that performance provided some encouraging signs, Sunday’s matchup with the Buccaneers presents a different set of challenges for Mike McCarthy‘s team.
Injuries at wide receiver have forced Pittsburgh to reconsider how it distributes the football, while the defense faces another opponent capable of controlling a game on the ground. Add in a Tampa Bay defense that thrives on creating confusion and pressure, and there are several individual matchups worth paying attention to.
Here are five Steelers players I’ll be keeping a close eye on this Sunday.
It’s difficult to start anywhere else after what Warren accomplished against Indianapolis. The Steelers running back has become the focal point of Pittsburgh’s offense, and McCarthy made that official earlier this week when he described Warren as the team’s featured player.
What makes Warren so valuable isn’t simply his ability to carry the football. He’s become a legitimate threat in the passing game, capable of turning a short completion into an explosive gain. His 80-yard touchdown reception against Indianapolis was a perfect example of how quickly he can change a game when given an opportunity in space.
That versatility could become even more important against Tampa Bay. With the Steelers missing several receivers, Warren provides Rodgers with a dependable option underneath, particularly when the Buccaneers bring pressure.
The question is whether Pittsburgh can continue finding creative ways to get Warren involved without placing too much responsibility on his shoulders. A healthy contribution from Rico Dowdle would help, but Warren has earned the right to remain a central part of the game plan.
Few players have a greater opportunity to establish themselves this weekend than Smith. With Pittsburgh’s receiving corps depleted, the veteran could find himself playing a much larger role against Tampa Bay than anyone anticipated a few weeks ago.
Fortunately, he isn’t walking into an entirely unfamiliar situation. Rodgers knows Smith from their time together in New York and spoke highly of his work habits, preparation and ability to make plays in practice.
McCarthy and Angelichio have also praised Smith’s readiness, particularly after he stepped into the Indianapolis game and executed assignments without receiving the usual practice repetitions.
Smith doesn’t necessarily need to produce eye-popping statistics to make an impact Sunday. Running the correct routes, recognizing defensive adjustments and giving Rodgers a reliable target could be every bit as important.
Against a defense that likes to disguise pressure and coverage, those details could determine whether Pittsburgh sustains drives or finds itself sending the punt team onto the field.
Washington has steadily become one of Pittsburgh’s more interesting offensive weapons, and this matchup could provide another opportunity for the Steelers to expand his role.
At his size, Washington naturally creates problems for defenders trying to bring him down after the catch. McCarthy discussed that element of his game Wednesday, noting that he would like to continue finding opportunities for Washington to work vertically rather than limiting him to shorter routes.
There’s also the matter of Pittsburgh’s personnel situation. With fewer healthy wide receivers available, the Steelers may lean more heavily on multiple-tight-end formations, allowing Washington and Pat Freiermuth to remain on the field together.
Washington’s blocking will be important against Tampa Bay’s defensive front, but I’m particularly interested in whether Pittsburgh finds ways to get him involved as a receiver. He has already demonstrated what he can do when the football gets into his hands with room to operate.
If the Buccaneers become overly aggressive attacking the line of scrimmage, Washington could provide Rodgers with another way to make them pay.
The Steelers managed to defeat Indianapolis without consistently pressuring Daniel Jones, but that isn’t a formula Pittsburgh should want to repeat every week.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham acknowledged Monday that the pass rush hasn’t produced the results the team would like over the past two games. However, he also cautioned against overreacting, noting that pressure opportunities depend on several factors, including an opponent’s tempo, game situation and how quickly the quarterback releases the football.
For Watt, Sunday’s matchup is about making life difficult for Tampa Bay’s quarterback while remaining disciplined against the run.
Graham has emphasized that stopping the Buccaneers’ rushing attack must come first. Tampa Bay’s offensive line and running backs present a physical challenge, and Bucky Irving‘s ability to change direction makes maintaining gap integrity particularly important.
Watt doesn’t necessarily need multiple sacks to have an effective afternoon. Setting the edge, disrupting running plays and forcing the offense into uncomfortable situations can create opportunities for the entire defense.
However, if Pittsburgh can put Tampa Bay behind the chains, that’s when Watt has the chance to become a game-changing presence.
Queen could have one of the most demanding assignments on Pittsburgh’s defense this weekend.
After successfully limiting Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis rushing attack, the Steelers now face a different type of challenge in Irving. Graham specifically highlighted the Buccaneers running back’s elusiveness and ability to cut back across the formation, making disciplined pursuit and tackling essential.
That’s where Queen becomes particularly important. As one of the central figures in Pittsburgh’s defense, he’ll need to help keep everyone aligned while reacting quickly to Tampa Bay’s running concepts.
Queen’s communication with Graham could also continue to be a factor. The defensive coordinator moved to the sideline against Indianapolis, providing more direct interaction with his players. Graham described several instances where that face-to-face communication helped the defense anticipate adjustments and stay on the same page.
Against an offense that could lean heavily on its running backs, Queen’s ability to diagnose plays, pursue the football and prevent manageable gains from becoming explosive ones will be worth watching.
There are plenty of other names who could make a difference Sunday. Germie Bernard continues to earn opportunities within Pittsburgh’s offense, while the possible return of DeShon Elliott would provide the defense with another experienced presence in the secondary.
Still, these five players represent several of the biggest challenges facing the Steelers against Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh needs Warren to continue creating offense, its available receivers and tight ends to execute their assignments, and its defense to control the Buccaneers’ running game before worrying about generating pressure.
The victory over Indianapolis was an encouraging step, but building consistency requires doing it again under different circumstances. With another road game and several injuries to overcome, Sunday’s matchup should tell us more about how adaptable this Steelers team can be.
