TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were up 16-3 heading to the final period at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday and still walked off losers, beaten 26-19 in overtime by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
For three quarters the home side had control. Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals before the final period, and rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels found Emeka Egbuka for a short scoring pass in the second quarter. Defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson picked off Aaron Rodgers early, and the Bucs defense sacked the veteran five times over the first three quarters.
Then Pittsburgh scored 16 straight points. Two of Daniels’ fourth-quarter throws were intercepted, and each one became a Steelers field goal, the second giving the visitors a 19-16 edge with 1:21 remaining. The rookie answered by moving the Bucs into range, and McLaughlin, now 14 for 14 this season, hit from 53 yards to send the game to an extra period.
Pittsburgh got the ball first in overtime and went 70 yards in 12 plays, finishing with a Rodgers touchdown pass to rookie Germie Bernard with 3:15 to go. Tampa Bay reached midfield on its last possession before Jalen Ramsey dropped Daniels on fourth down to end it.
Daniels, starting for the injured Baker Mayfield for the third time in his career, went 22-for-43 through the air for 164 yards. The defeat drops Tampa Bay to 1-5, and all five losses have come by seven points or fewer. It also ended any hope of back-to-back wins after last Thursday’s 24-16 victory at Dallas.
The Bucs head to Carolina for a division game on Sunday, Oct. 25.
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