Buccaneers vs. Steelers: Complete Week 4 Preview for Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers can get off to their best start in four years with a win Sunday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Heinz Field (1 p.m., Fox).
The Steelers (2-1) changed the complexion of their 2014 season by routing the previously undefeated Carolina Panthers 37-19 last Sunday.
Last year at this time, as the losses piled up in September, the dwindling historical percentage of teams making the playoffs after 0-2, 0-3 and 0-4 starts became common knowledge among Steelers fans.
This year, the Steelers don't have to climb out of such a hole. According to ESPN.com, 52.8 percent of teams that started 2-1 since 1990 have reached the playoffs. The number drops to 25.3 percent for 1-2 teams. So the Steelers dramatically swung the odds in their favor with Sunday's win.
All the number crunching aside, the Steelers' 18-point margin of victory Sunday was their biggest on the road since they won 41-9 at Cleveland in 2010, and it came over a quality opponent. That has to be an encouraging sign.
Now, the Steelers go into what looks like an easy leg of their schedule and can put themselves in good shape to get back to the playoffs for the first time in three years.
It starts with Tampa Bay Sunday. The Buccaneers (0-3) were embarrassed 56-14 at Atlanta on Thursday Night Football in Week 3.
A win isn't guaranteed, however, especially with the injuries to Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Ike Taylor.
The silver lining to those injuries is the return of James Harrison, whom the Steelers signed for linebacker depth, and the first NFL start for Sean Spence. That didn't seem possible after his horrific knee injury two years ago.
Sunday will be a big day for those two guys, and it will be a big day for the Steelers if they can manage their first 3-1 start since the last year they made the Super Bowl.
Steelers Week 3 Recap
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The Steelers reached all sorts of milestones in their 37-19 road win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 3.
Antonio Brown caught 10 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. He tied Laveranues Coles for the NFL record with 19 straight games of at least five receptions and 50 yards. He can break that record Sunday against the Buccaneers' 23rd-ranked pass defense.
The Steelers ran for 264 yards, the franchise's highest single-game total since Mike Tomlin became head coach in 2007. Le'Veon Bell ran for a career-high 147 yards, and LeGarrette Blount added 118 yards and a touchdown. It was the first time since 1986 that two Steelers running backs ran for 100 yards in the same game. Earnest Jackson ran for 132 yards, and Walter Abercrombie had 109 in a 30-9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Three Rivers Stadium.
Bell's night was highlighted by his 81-yard run, the longest in the NFL this year and the longest run by a Steeler since 1970, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Sunday was also a milestone day for Robert Golden, who scored his first career touchdown. Shamarko Thomas, who Pro Football Focus (subscription required) grades as the Steelers' top special teams player, forced Philly Brown to fumble a punt, and Golden recovered in the end zone.
It was the second of two turnovers the Steelers forced after forcing none in their first two games. They're still one of six teams that have forced two or fewer turnovers through three games.
The Steelers' first turnover Sunday came when Jarvis Jones strip-sacked Cam Newton. The Steelers sacked Newton three times and have six sacks this season, 17th in the league.
Sunday's win was a costly one for the Steelers. Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Ike Taylor all left with injuries and will miss multiple games.
That could throw a wrench into what appears to be an easy portion of the schedule. After Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh goes to Jacksonville to face another winless team.
The Buccaneers have had three more days of rest than the Steelers, who benefited from three extra days of rest last week. But that's about all the Bucs have going for them.
After their humiliating 56-14 defeat at Atlanta on Sept. 18, the Bucs rank 30th in the NFL with 271 yards of offense per game. As badly as the Falcons beat them, the two teams are even in one category: Both have allowed 387 yards this season, tied for 27th in the league.
The Steelers rank 18th defensively (353.7 yards per game), but they shot up to No. 5 on offense after Week 3 and lead the NFL with 163.3 rushing yards per game.
"Steelers lead the NFL in rushing. The last time they finished the season No.1? 2001. #TRIBSTEEL
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) September 25, 2014"
The Steelers can take another step toward restoring the good ol' days with a win Sunday.
News and Notes
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James Harrison Returns
Earlier this month, James Harrison returned to Pittsburgh and had a news conference so he could officially retire as a Steeler.
Now he'll really retire as a Steeler.
The Steelers signed Harrison for depth at linebacker after injuries to Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones.
Jones dislocated his wrist and was placed on injured reserve/designated to return, which means he'll be out at least eight weeks, according to ESPN.com.
Harrison, 36, last played for the Steelers in 2012. The Steelers released him, and he played for the Bengals last year, getting two sacks in 15 games. His career seemed over when the Bengals released him, but the Steelers need linebackers, and Harrison answered the bat phone.
They aren't necessarily expecting Harrison to make an immediate impact. He needs to work his way back into football shape and had his first practice Wednesday.
"James Harrison asked how he felt during his first practice today w/ the #Steelers - "Horrible"
— Ken Laird (@Ken_Laird) September 24, 2014"
Arthur Moats, who had a sack against the Panthers, will replace Jones as the starting right outside linebacker on Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Spence to Make First Start
Ryan Shazier is expected to be out for two or three weeks with a sprained right MCL, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
In the meantime, Sean Spence will make his first NFL start Sunday. If they make a movie about it, maybe it can be called Miracle on Grass.
Spence, a third-round pick from the University of Miami in 2012, tore multiple knee ligaments, dislocated his kneecap and suffered nerve damage in the final preseason game of his rookie year.
His chances of playing again were slim. Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler said in April of 2013 that it would be a "miracle" if he played again. That's part of the reason they drafted inside linebacker Vince Williams in the sixth round last year.
"The tunnel was dark for me for a long time," Spence said, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Spence practiced last year, but his storybook comeback was put on hold by a broken finger.
While Sunday will be his first start, it won't be his first action. Spence has four tackles in 50 defensive snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Taylor Out at Least Two Months
Ike Taylor will be sidelined for at least two months with a broken forearm, according to Steel City Insider (subscription required).
William Gay will replace Taylor as the starting cornerback opposite Cortez Allen. Gay has broken up three passes this year, according to Pro Football Focus, and has allowed eight completions on 15 balls thrown into his coverage.
PFF ranks Gay as the 25th-best cornerback out of 158 in the NFL so far this season. Allen ranks dead last, although he had his best game of the season at Carolina.
Antwon Blake, Brice McCain and B.W. Webb are battling for the nickelback slot. Blake has a leg up on the other two. He was pressed into duty when Taylor was hurt at Carolina. Blake, 24, played 14 games for the Steelers last year. He saw most of his action on special teams.
The Steelers signed McCain as a free agent during the offseason. The 27-year-old intercepted five passes and broke up 33 in five seasons with the Houston Texans.
Webb, 24, played in 15 games last season for the Cowboys.
Glennon Likely to Start for Bucs
Mike Glennon is the probable starter at quarterback for the Buccaneers, according to NFL.com. Josh McCown will be out with a thumb injury.
In his second year out of North Carolina State, Glennon completed 17 of 24 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown at Atlanta. He didn't play in the first two games.
The 6'6" Glennon started the last 13 games of the 2013 season and went 4-9. He threw for 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions and was sacked 40 times.
Bucs Getting Healthy
Tampa Bay might have lost its starting quarterback, but several players are preparing to return to action in Week 4, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Running back Doug Martin is expected back from a knee injury. He ran for 1,454 yards as a rookie in 2012, but injuries limited him to 456 yards in six games last season. He was knocked out of the season opener against Carolina after going for nine yards on nine carries.
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (broken hand), rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle) and defensive end Michael Johnson all were limited in practice Thursday but are likely to play Sunday.
The Steelers know Johnson all too well. He was a Bengal for five years before signing with the Bucs.
History on Steelers' Side
Of all opponents that they've played more than twice, the Steelers have the best all-time winning percentage against the Buccaneers.
They're 8-1 against Tampa Bay. The only loss came at Tampa Bay in 1998. Kordell Stewart was pulled from the game for Mike Tomczak, and the Steelers lost 16-3.
In their first meeting against the Bucs, the Steelers won 42-0 at Three Rivers Stadium during Tampa Bay's maiden season in 1976. Last week's loss in Atlanta tied that game for the second-worst loss in team history. The Buccaneers have lost twice by 45 points.
The Steelers last played the Buccaneers in Week 3 of the 2010 season, winning 38-13 at Tampa Bay.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| Ben Roethlisberger | QB | Probable (not injury related) |
| Dri Archer | WR/RB | Probable (ankle) |
| Ramon Foster | G | Questionable (ankle) |
| Darrius Heyward-Bey | WR | Probable (illness) |
| Brett Keisel | DE | Probable (not injury related) |
| Heath Miller | TE | Probable (not injury related) |
| Troy Polamalu | S | Probable (not injury related) |
| Ryan Shazier | LB | Out (knee) |
| Ike Taylor | CB | Out (forearm) |
The Steelers expect to have Dri Archer and Ramon Foster back on Sunday.
Archer, a rookie chosen in the third round, has been out since the season opener. He carried once for four yards and returned two kickoffs in that game. The speedy 5'8", 173-pounder could add another wrinkle to a Steelers offense that is hitting its stride.
Foster was replaced at left guard by Cody Wallace at Carolina. Archer practiced fully on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Foster had full practices Wednesday and Thursday but was limited in practice Friday.
Ben Roethlisberger was added to the injury report Friday because he was limited in practice, but it wasn't injury related.
Jarvis Jones is not included in the report; since he's on injured reserve, he doesn't take up a roster spot.
Injury report information is from Steelers.com.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Antonio Brown vs. Alterraun Verner
The Buccaneers signed Alterraun Verner from the Tennessee Titans to replace Darrelle Revis at cornerback. Verner broke up 22 passes last season. This year, Pro Football Focus ranks Verner 27th among cornerbacks, tied with Richard Sherman.
Brown is tied for seventh in the NFL with 22 receptions.
Buccaneers' Tall Receivers vs. Steelers' Short Cornerbacks
The Steelers will be without Ike Taylor for a while. He's their tallest cornerback at 6'2". They still have 6'1" Cortez Allen in the starting lineup. But 5'10" William Gay takes over for Taylor, and Antwon Blake and Brice McCain, both 5'9", will see a lot more action.
Three of the Buccaneers' top four pass-catchers this season are 6'3" or taller. Rookie wide receiver Mike Evans (6'5") and tight end Brandon Myers (6'3") share the team lead with 13 receptions each. Vincent Jackson (6'5") has caught 10 passes.
Blake was beaten by 6'5" rookie Kelvin Benjamin for a touchdown last week after Taylor went down.
If the Steelers get a comfortable lead, their cornerbacks will have to stand tall when the Bucs throw the ball to try to get back in the game.
Le'Veon Bell vs. Gerald McCoy
Pro Football Focus ranks Gerald McCoy as the NFL's fourth-best run-stopping defensive tackle, but he'll need his broken hand to be fully healed to tackle Le'Veon Bell.
Going into Week 4, Bell's 315 rushing yards were second in the NFL. Rashad Jennings and Alfred Morris have passed him for the time being because they both played Thursday night.
Tampa Bay's run defense is tied for 12th in the league. The Bucs have allowed an average of 3.8 yards per rush.
Doug Martin vs. Steelers Run Defense
The Steelers allowed an average of 174 rushing yards in their first two games before giving up only 42 at Carolina. The Panthers, however, were without DeAngelo Williams, their top running back.
If Doug Martin returns, the Steelers will see if they can stop a legitimate starting running back. Then again, Martin averaged just 3.6 yards per carry last season and has averaged one yard per carry so far this season. If the Steelers can prevent Martin from regaining his 2012 form when he gained 1,454 yards, it will be another step in the right direction for their run defense.
Steelers X-Factor to Watch: Sean Spence
Sean Spence has overcome such long odds to get on the field. Imagine if he took his inspiring story a step further and kept the starting job at inside linebacker when Ryan Shazier returned.
Pro Football Focus gives Spence a higher overall ranking than Shazier, but Shazier has played three times as many snaps. So Spence's sample size is smaller.
However, Shazier is a rookie and still learning the defense. Spence attended meetings over the past two years as he rehabbed his injury. Now he has a chance to show what he's learned. If he knows significantly more than Shazier, he won't relinquish the starting job.
Prediction
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The last time the Steelers played at Heinz Field, they followed a euphoric first half with a nearly disastrous second half.
Protecting leads won't be easy with three injured starters on defense. Also, the Steelers are second in the NFL with 31 penalties committed, according to NFLPenalties.com.
It's time for the offense to carry the defense, and against the Panthers, the Steelers offense found the touch that was missing since the first half of Week 1.
Look for the Steelers to jump out to a big lead against the lowly Buccaneers and for the offense to keep its foot on the gas pedal to prevent another embarrassing second-half comeback by a visiting team.
Prediction: Steelers 35, Buccaneers 14
Statistics are from NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
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