“Tampa Bay Buccaneers Fall to Steelers in Preseason Opener, Penalties Haunt Victory Hopes”

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason opener. Penalties plagued the Bucs’ offense, hindering their performance. Despite some positive moments, including a touchdown from Baker Mayfield to Trey Palmer, the Steelers dominated the game. Kyle Trask took over in the second quarter but was intercepted by Trenton Thompson. Pittsburgh capitalized on their opportunities and secured the win. The Buccaneers’ mistakes ultimately sealed their fate in Week One of the preseason. Brianna Dix reported

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a 27-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first preseason game. Costly mistakes made by the Buccaneers ultimately determined the outcome of the match. The Bucs’ offense struggled at the start of the game, with penalties becoming a major issue. In the first two drives, Tampa Bay was penalized three times for a total of 20 yards, putting them at a disadvantage. However, the momentum shifted in their favor when the Bucs’ defense forced a three-and-out on the Steelers’ second drive.

In the early stages of the second quarter, the Buccaneers managed to score a touchdown. Quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with rookie Trey Palmer in the back corner of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown pass. Despite the defensive back’s attempt to intercept the ball, Mayfield’s throw found its way into Palmer’s hands. Throughout the first three series, Mayfield completed eight out of nine passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. This touchdown brought the score to 7-7, and the Bucs’ defense continued to perform well. Rookie Zyon McCollum showcased his skills by matching the Steelers’ wide receiver stride-for-stride and making an impressive catch along the sideline.

In the second quarter, Kyle Trask took over as the Buccaneers’ quarterback but was unable to score any touchdowns. He was intercepted by the Steelers’ Trenton Thompson and finished the first half with a completion rate of three out of five passes for 29 yards. Overall, Trask completed six out of ten passes for 99 yards in the game. The Steelers held a yardage advantage of 191-119 over the Buccaneers in the first half. The Buccaneers were plagued by penalties, with six penalties for a total of 45 yards nullifying positive plays and disrupting their tempo. On the other hand, the Steelers managed to find the end zone twice, with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett to George Pickens and a 14-yard touchdown run by Anthony McFarland.

During the third quarter, the Buccaneers failed to score any points, while the Steelers added 10 points to their lead. This was achieved through a 67-yard touchdown pass from Mason Rudolph to Calvin Austin and a 43-yard field goal by B.T. Potter. The fourth quarter highlighted the Buccaneers’ struggles throughout the game. J.J. Russell intercepted a pass, but once again, the Buccaneers were penalized, nullifying a touchdown run by Sean Tucker and forcing them to settle for a field goal. The final score was 27-10 in favor of the Steelers. The Buccaneers managed to score a last-minute touchdown as John Wolford connected with Payne Durham for a four-yard touchdown pass, but their early mistakes ultimately sealed their fate in the first preseason game..