Tampa Bay Tops Pittsburgh in a Hard-Fought 17-14 Preseason Battle

Tampa Bay Tops Pittsburgh in a Hard-Fought 17-14 Preseason Battle

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 in a tightly contested preseason game on August 16, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The victory improves Tampa Bay's preseason record to 2-0, while the Steelers fall to 1-1. The game featured notable performances by veteran and young players alike, setting an intriguing tone for both teams as they finalize their rosters for the regular season.

Teddy Bridgewater Shines with Two Early Touchdowns

Teddy Bridgewater, who recently signed with the Buccaneers after stepping away from his high school coaching job in Miami, demonstrated that he still possesses significant arm talent. Playing just three series, Bridgewater completed 6 of 11 passes for 85 yards, punctuated by two first-quarter touchdown throws. His scoring passes included a 15-yard strike to running back Bucky Irving and a 5-yard lob to rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, who made an impressive sliding catch in the end zone.

Bridgewater's performance places him in direct competition with Kyle Trask for the backup quarterback role behind starter Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles refrained from naming a clear favorite but acknowledged the effectiveness that Bridgewater displayed. The 32-year-old quarterback insisted he remains focused on contributing to the team in any capacity, both playing and coaching, and gave a shoutout to his former high school program in Miami.

Clutch Special Teams Play and Final Score

The game was decided in the final moments when kicker Chase McLaughlin converted a 42-yard field goal as time expired. This winning kick was set up by an interception return of 36 yards by linebacker Antonio Grier, marking the Buccaneers' sixth interception in two weeks during the preseason. The score summary by quarter was:

Team	1st Q	2nd Q	3rd Q	4th Q	Total
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	14	0	0	3	17
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	0	7	0	14

Statistical Breakdown

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Key Stats

Passing:

• Teddy Bridgewater: 6 completions on 11 attempts, 85 yards, 2 TDs

• Connor Bazelak: 14 completions on 18 attempts, 106 yards, 0 TD

• Kyle Trask: 3 completions on 10 attempts, 19 yards

Rushing:

• Bucky Irving: 8 carries, 12 yards, 1 TD (longest 5 yards)

• J. Williams: 5 carries, 21 yards

• S. Tucker: 4 carries, 6 yards

Receiving:

• Bucky Irving: 1 reception, 15 yards, 1 TD

• Steven Shepard: 3 receptions, 47 yards

• Gabriel Greene: 3 receptions, 25 yards

• Emeka Egbuka: 1 reception, 5 yards, 1 TD

Pittsburgh Steelers Key Stats

Passing:

• Mason Rudolph: 3 completions on 5 attempts, 46 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

• Skylar Thompson: 10 completions on 15 attempts, 113 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

• L. Woodside: 4 completions on 9 attempts, 45 yards

Rushing:

• Kaleb Johnson: 11 carries, 50 yards (longest 14 yards)

• Lew Nichols: 3 carries, 42 yards (longest 37 yards)

Receiving:

• Roman Wilson: 2 receptions, 72 yards (longest 42 yards)

• Roc Taylor: 3 receptions, 39 yards

• Scotty Miller: 2 receptions, 38 yards

• Brandon Johnson: 3 receptions, 16 yards, 1 TD

Emerging Young Talent

The preseason spotlight also shone on rookies and younger players eager to make their mark:

• Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers): The 19th overall draft pick continued his strong preseason with a clutch touchdown catch while evading Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols. Head coach Todd Bowles praised Egbuka’s daily practice intensity translating into game success.

• Derrick Harmon (Steelers): The Steelers first-round pick earned his first sack of the preseason by tackling Kyle Trask for a loss, signaling his rising impact on defense.

• Kaleb Johnson (Steelers): The third-round running back showed marked improvement from his timid first game, rushing for 50 yards and displaying the same cutback ability that made him a star at Iowa.

• Roman Wilson (Steelers): Returning from a rookie-season injury, Wilson made significant plays with two receptions totaling 72 yards, including a 42-yard deep catch, bolstering Pittsburgh’s receiving options.

Notable Injuries and Odd Moments

Physicality impacted both teams with several injuries:

• Buccaneers’ WR Jalen McMillan left early with a back injury and possible concussion following a head impact.

• Backup safety Christian Izien suffered an oblique injury.

• Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig exited with a hamstring injury in the first quarter.

An unusual moment occurred when Steelers defensive lineman Logan Lee served as emergency long snapper following a chest injury to the regular snapper Christian Kunitz. Lee, recalling his high school multi-role experience, managed to perform with some humor, emphasizing his preference for defense.

What’s Next?

Both teams prepare to close out their preseasons next week:

• The Buccaneers will host the Buffalo Bills in their final preseason game.

• The Steelers travel to face the Carolina Panthers to wrap up their preseason schedule.