The Bucs had few high grades or performances in Week 2 of the preseason. The good should outweigh the bad, as they were able to pull away at the last second from a tough Steelers team. After dominating in joint practice on Thursday, Pittsburgh made its adjustments and came back stronger, and tested Tampa Bay.

The Bucs' offense hit a lull after the first quarter, while the Steelers put up 17. Connor Bazelak took over at quarterback in the third quarter and finished completing 14 of 18 attempts for 106 yards. In the final three seconds of the game, Chase McLaughlin drilled a 43-yard field goal to give the Bucs a 17-14 victory on the road.

Their timely takeaways were pivotal in building and preserving the lead. Chris Braswell also made a game-changing impact with a sack in key moments, reinforcing the defense’s disruptive presence. The team's six interceptions are the most by any team in the preseason.