Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Steelers erase 16–3 fourth-quarter deficit, beat Buccaneers 26–19 in overtime
Aaron Rodgers led a late rally and a 70-yard overtime drive, Germie Bernard caught the winning six-yard touchdown, and Jalen Ramsey ended Tampa Bay’s reply with a fourth-down sack.
The Pittsburgh Steelers rallied from 16–3 down entering the fourth quarter to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26–19 in overtime on October 18. Aaron Rodgers threw the winning six-yard pass to Germie Bernard, and Pittsburgh’s defense stopped Tampa Bay on fourth down to close the game.
Pittsburgh turned one quarter into a comeback
The Steelers had scored only a 52-yard Chris Boswell field goal across their first 10 possessions and trailed 16–3. Rodgers then found Darnell Washington for a five-yard touchdown with 13:48 left in regulation.
A Daylen Everette interception set up another Boswell field goal, and Jamel Dean’s interception return to the Tampa Bay 3 helped produce the go-ahead kick with 1:21 remaining. Pittsburgh scored 16 unanswered fourth-quarter points to lead 19–16.
Tampa Bay forced overtime with three seconds left
The Buccaneers did not fold after losing the lead. Chase McLaughlin made a 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to tie the score at 19.
That kick extended a game Tampa Bay had controlled through three quarters, but it did not erase the fourth-quarter shift in field position and takeaways.
The opening overtime drive ended the scoring
Rodgers directed a 12-play, 70-yard possession and finished it with a six-yard touchdown pass to Bernard with 3:15 left in overtime. Bernard ended with 11 catches for 87 yards; DK Metcalf also caught 11 passes, for 93 yards.
The touchdown put Pittsburgh ahead 26–19 and required Tampa Bay to answer with a touchdown on its possession.
Ramsey closed the final chance
Jalon Daniels converted fourth-and-nine with a 10-yard scramble on Tampa Bay’s response. Five plays later, Jalen Ramsey came on a corner blitz and sacked him on fourth down to end the game.
Pittsburgh finished with five sacks and two interceptions. Daniels, starting again for the injured Baker Mayfield, went 22 of 43 for 164 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
What the completed result says
Rodgers completed 33 of 49 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. The win moved Pittsburgh to 4–2, while Tampa Bay fell to 1–5.
The result demonstrates a completed comeback built on takeaways, field goals and one overtime touchdown. It does not guarantee that either team’s current record will define the rest of the season.
