Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1-1) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
Preview
All eyes will be on Tampa as the Buccaneers go for their first 3-0 start since going 4-0 back in 2005 when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night at Raymond James Stadium. Pittsburgh is coming off a shootout loss at home to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Bucs just defeated the Super Bowl champion Eagles and are looking for the sweep of Pennsylvania-based teams. This game has an added sentiment for both sides, as former Steelers player and Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy will be inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime. Can the Steelers end the “Fitzmagic” mania, or will the magician pull another rabbit out of his hat? We’ll find out tonight in a great contest.
Players to watch
All of Tampa Bay will be watching to see if Ryan Fitzpatrick can garner up some more “Fitzmagic” against another formidable opponent. He’s got great receivers all around him, and his chemistry with Desean Jackson will be the difference in this game; get him open, and the aerial attack can be opened. On the Steelers’ side, they’re without Le’Veon Bell again, so it’s up to James Conner to carry the workload in the backfield. And of course, one of the three best receivers in the league today, Antonio Brown, will get his fair share of targets, so it’s up to a young and wounded Bucs secondary to figure out how to stop him.
Keys to the game
Pittsburgh
Establish a ground game
Find Antonio when it’s necessary
Stop the deep pass on defense
Can you get to Fitzpatrick?
Tampa Bay
Keep firing the deep ball
Is there even a running game?
Put pressure up front
Be ready for AB
Injury list
Pittsburgh Steelers
Morgan Burnett, S- Groin (Questionable)
Marcus Gilbert, OT- Hamstring (Questionable)
David DeCastro, G (Questionable)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vita Vea, DT- Calf (Questionable)
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE- Knee (Questionable)
Chris Godwin, WR- Toe (Questionable)
Marcus Williams, CB (Questionable)
Demar Dotson, OT(Questionable)
Donovan Smith, OT (Questionable)
Top 5 Fantasy Players
Ben Roethlisberger, QB (PIT)
Antonio Brown, WR (PIT)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB (TB)
Desean Jackson, WR (TB)
OJ Howard, TE (TB)
Prediction
This is the final game of Jameis Winston’s suspension, and the Buccaneers are one win away from a record almost nobody thought was possible when it was announced. The Bucs have been playing lights out, and they want to give their fans an extra treat on Tony Dungy Ring of Honor night. Pittsburgh is looking for a win, and they’ll have to do it for a third straight week without Le’Veon Bell, which might prove impossible with how their last two games have gone. Tampa should win this game close like their first two contests have gone, and regardless of his statistics, Fitzpatrick will have guaranteed the starting job for Week Four against the Bears.
Final Score: Tampa Bay 23, Pittsburgh 20
Written by: Joe Carlino