The Steelers must avoid another letdown against a weaker opponent

The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) appeared to be hitting their stride during their 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium Sunday. Aaron Rodgers and the offense found a rhythm, while the defense limited Indianapolis enough to secure a comfortable margin. The win provided a strong response to a frustrating road loss to the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football the previous week. While the Steelers and their fans have reason for optimism after controlling both sides of the ball against the Colts, the upcoming matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still warrants caution. Read more: The Steelers must avoid another letdown against a weaker opponent.

This week's challenge

The Buccaneers enter the game fresh off a 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, led by backup quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown in an efficient performance that helped Tampa Bay earn its first win of the season.

Although both teams won last week, the matchup appears favorable for Pittsburgh against a 1-4 opponent that may again be without Baker Mayfield. Steelers fans, however, have seen this scenario before. In recent years, the team has repeatedly struggled against weaker opponents it was expected to handle comfortably, turning what should have been straightforward games into tense or disappointing outcomes.

Recent examples

One came on December 28, 2025, against the Browns. Pittsburgh entered the game with a 9-6 record, while Cleveland sat at the bottom of the AFC North at 3-12. The Browns’ defense limited the Steelers to just six points, while an offense led by Shedeur Sanders scored 13 in a 13-6 victory that underscored Pittsburgh’s inability to pull away from an inferior opponent.

Another instance occurred during the 2023 season in a Thursday night game against the rebuilding New England Patriots. The Steelers entered at 7-6, while the Patriots were 2-10. Despite a loud crowd at Acrisure Stadium, Bailey Zappe picked apart Pittsburgh’s defense and built a 21-10 halftime lead. The Steelers ultimately lost 21-18. They also fell 24-10 to the equally struggling 2-10 Arizona Cardinals that season, reinforcing a pattern of inconsistency against teams they were favored to beat.

Related: Aaron Rodgers finding his rhythm behind Steelers new-look O-line

The list goes on. In 2021, the Steelers entered a matchup against the 0-8 Detroit Lions with a 5-3 record and could only manage a 16-16 tie. These results reflect a recurring recent trend of underperforming against inferior opponents.

A chance to change the narrative

The question facing Steelers fans this week is whether this season will be different. Will the team put away a weak opponent as it should, or will it struggle and risk another disappointing outcome? Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, the organization and its supporters hope for a fresh chapter — one that includes the sustained playoff success that has eluded the franchise since 2017. A decisive win over the Buccaneers this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium would be a meaningful step in that direction, as Pittsburgh hopes to build on its victory over the Colts and establish a more reliable standard of play.