# NFL Week 6: Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-4) Game Preview, Injury Report and Predictions

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-6-pittsburgh-steelers-3-2-vs-tampa-bay-buccaneers-1-4-game-preview-injury-report

> Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers meet a shorthanded Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Tampa as both clubs ride one-game win streaks.

By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-17 17:16 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

Aaron Rodgers keeps piling up milestones as the [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers) roll into Tampa riding a one-game win streak.

The Pittsburgh Steelers sit 3-2 and have won their last game, while the [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers) are 1-4 but also enter on a one-game win streak after knocking off Dallas.

## Game details

- When | Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
- Where | Raymond James Stadium
- TV | CBS
- Line | Pittsburgh Steelers -2.5 | O/U 39 (market view)
- Pittsburgh Steelers record | 3-2
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers record | 1-4

## The matchup

Rodgers is putting together one of the more remarkable stretches of his career. He threw three touchdowns with zero interceptions and a 125.1 rating in Week 5, marking his 58th career game with a 125-plus rating, the most in NFL history. He's now thrown 582 career touchdown passes including playoffs, third-most all-time, and sits at 166 regular-season wins, fifth-most ever. He's one of only two quarterbacks with three-plus touchdown games three times this season and is chasing a fourth straight outing with three or more scores. [Jaylen Warren](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylen-warren) matched that fireworks display with a career-high 188 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns last week, becoming just the sixth player ever and the first in 40 seasons to post an 80-yard receiving touchdown and a 50-yard rushing touchdown in the same game.

Tampa Bay has its own bright spots despite the record. [Bucky Irving](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bucky-irving) led the entire NFL in rushing yards in Week 5 with a career-high 165 yards on the ground to go with a rushing score and a receiving touchdown, and he's aiming for his seventh straight game with 50-plus scrimmage yards. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown for a 110.3 rating in that same game and is chasing his third straight start with a touchdown pass. [Chris Godwin Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-godwin-jr) has a long history against Pittsburgh too, with six catches for 95 yards in the last meeting between these two.

## Key matchups

DK Metcalf has owned this matchup against Tampa Bay, aiming for his third straight game against the Buccaneers with six-plus catches and 70-plus receiving yards, assuming he's cleared from his illness designation. On the other side, T.J. Watt is chasing his third straight road game with a sack and sixth straight on the road with a tackle for loss, and he's racked up 36 sacks and 39 tackles for loss in 38 career games against NFC competition. [Pat Freiermuth](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/pat-freiermuth) has been a red-zone weapon in his own right, with four receiving touchdowns on the season tied for the most among tight ends, and he's looking for his third straight game with a score. Up front for Pittsburgh, Cameron Heyward has a sack in two of his three career games against Tampa Bay and is chasing his fourth straight game against the Buccaneers with a tackle for loss.

## Injuries that matter

Pittsburgh is dealing with a banged-up receiving corps. [Roman Wilson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/roman-wilson) is out with a finger injury and [Ben Skowronek](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ben-skowronek) is out with a calf issue, while [DK Metcalf](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/dk-metcalf) is questionable with an illness. Running back [Rico Dowdle](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/rico-dowdle) is questionable with a toe injury, and on defense [Keeanu Benton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/keeanu-benton), [Jamel Dean](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jamel-dean) and [Jalen Ramsey](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jalen-ramsey) are all questionable with ankle and wrist issues, respectively, while [DeShon Elliott](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/deshon-elliott) is out with a knee injury.

Tampa Bay's situation starts under center, where [Baker Mayfield](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/baker-mayfield) is out with a thumb injury. Wide receiver [David Sills V](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/david-sills-v) is out with a hamstring injury, and running back [Sean Tucker](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/sean-tucker) is questionable with a quadricep issue. The secondary is thin too, with [Antoine Winfield Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/antoine-winfield-jr) out with a rib injury, [Benjamin Morrison](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/benjamin-morrison) doubtful with a quadricep injury, and [Ayden Garnes](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ayden-garnes) questionable with an ankle issue. Linebackers [SirVocea Dennis](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/sirvocea-dennis) and [Josiah Trotter](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/josiah-trotter) are both questionable with ankle and knee injuries.

## Fantasy angles

Aaron Rodgers projects for 17.0 DraftKings points and is chasing his fourth straight game with three-plus touchdown passes, making him a strong start against this Tampa Bay defense.

Jaylen Warren also projects for 17.0 points after his career outburst last week and is riding momentum into a matchup where he's aiming for his 12th straight road game with 50-plus scrimmage yards.

Bucky Irving projects for 12.5 points off his league-leading rushing performance and is chasing his seventh consecutive game with 50-plus scrimmage yards, making him Tampa Bay's clearest fantasy option.

DK Metcalf projects for 8.5 points but carries a questionable tag for illness, worth watching before locking him into lineups given his history of big games against this Tampa Bay secondary.

Chris Godwin Jr. projects for 6.0 points and brings a track record against Pittsburgh, aiming for his third straight game against the Steelers with five-plus catches and 70-plus receiving yards.

## The pick

The market has Pittsburgh as a 2.5-point favorite with a total of 39.0, and the projected score sits at Steelers 21, Buccaneers 18. Rodgers playing at this level, paired with Warren's dual-threat production, gives Pittsburgh the edge over a Tampa Bay team still finding its footing at quarterback. The Buccaneers have enough in Irving and Godwin to keep it within range, but Pittsburgh's recent form and Rodgers' current run make them the pick here.

## Injury report

- Player | Team | Pos | Status
- Rico Dowdle | Pittsburgh Steelers | RB | Questionable
- DK Metcalf | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | Questionable
- Roman Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | Out
- Keeanu Benton | Pittsburgh Steelers | DT | Questionable
- Ben Skowronek | Pittsburgh Steelers | WR | Out
- Jamel Dean | Pittsburgh Steelers | CB | Questionable
- DeShon Elliott | Pittsburgh Steelers | S | Out
- Jalen Ramsey | Pittsburgh Steelers | CB | Questionable
- Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | QB | Out
- David Sills V | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | WR | Out
- Sean Tucker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB | Questionable
- SirVocea Dennis | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LB | Questionable
- Ayden Garnes | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CB | Questionable
- Benjamin Morrison | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CB | Doubtful
- Josiah Trotter | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LB | Questionable
- Antoine Winfield Jr. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | S | Out

## Projected starters

- Pos | Pittsburgh Steelers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB | Aaron Rodgers | Baker Mayfield
- RB | Jaylen Warren, Rico Dowdle | Bucky Irving, Kenny Gainwell
- WR | DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard | Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., Ted Hurst III
- TE | Darnell Washington | Cade Otton

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Pittsburgh Steelers | Wk5 W 34-22 vs Indianapolis Colts, Wk4 L 24-27 vs Cleveland Browns, Wk3 W 30-27 vs Cincinnati Bengals
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Wk5 W 24-16 vs Dallas Cowboys, Wk4 L 14-17 vs Green Bay Packers, Wk3 L 16-23 vs Minnesota Vikings

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/88)

## In this story

- [Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/88)
- [Pittsburgh Steelers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/pittsburgh-steelers)
- [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/tampa-bay-buccaneers)
- [Aaron Rodgers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/aaron-rodgers)
- [Antoine Winfield Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/antoine-winfield-jr)
- [Ayden Garnes](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ayden-garnes)
- [Baker Mayfield](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/baker-mayfield)
- [Ben Skowronek](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ben-skowronek)
- [Benjamin Morrison](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/benjamin-morrison)
- [Bucky Irving](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bucky-irving)
- [Cade Otton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/cade-otton)
- [Chris Godwin Jr.](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/chris-godwin-jr)
- [DK Metcalf](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/dk-metcalf)
- [Darnell Washington](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/darnell-washington)
- [David Sills V](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/david-sills-v)
- [DeShon Elliott](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/deshon-elliott)
- [Emeka Egbuka](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/emeka-egbuka)
- [Germie Bernard](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/germie-bernard)
- [Jalen Ramsey](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jalen-ramsey)
- [Jamel Dean](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jamel-dean)
- [Jaylen Warren](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylen-warren)
- [Josiah Trotter](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/josiah-trotter)
- [Keeanu Benton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/keeanu-benton)
- [Kenny Gainwell](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kenny-gainwell)
- [Pat Freiermuth](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/pat-freiermuth)
- [Rico Dowdle](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/rico-dowdle)
- [Roman Wilson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/roman-wilson)
- [Sean Tucker](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/sean-tucker)
- [SirVocea Dennis](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/sirvocea-dennis)
- [Ted Hurst III](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ted-hurst-iii)

*Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

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