Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Pittsburgh Steelers delivered a dramatic finish in their 2025 preseason meeting, with a game sealing interception return setting up a walk off field goal as time expired. Beyond the exciting finish, the game offered an early look at two veteran quarterback rooms, Aaron Rodgers’ new chapter in Pittsburgh and Baker Mayfield’s continued development in Tampa Bay, ahead of what became successful full seasons for both franchises.
This article breaks down that preseason thriller, the full season context for both teams’ star quarterbacks, and what the results revealed heading into a 2025 campaign that saw both franchises capture division titles. Every stat below comes from official box scores and season reports.
Quick Team Snapshot
| Team | Preseason Result | 2025 Season Outcome | Division Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Won 17-14 | Playoff contender | Competitive NFC South |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Lost 17-14 | AFC North champions | First division title in 5 years |
A walk off field goal set up by a crucial interception return decided this preseason meeting, though both franchises went on to have successful full seasons built around veteran quarterback stability.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Key Player Stats
A Dramatic Finish Sets the Tone
Kicker Chase McLaughlin delivered the signature moment of this preseason meeting, hitting a 42 yard field goal as time expired to secure a 17-14 Buccaneers win. That kick was set up directly by linebacker Antonio Grier’s 36 yard interception return off a Logan Woodside pass, the Buccaneers’ sixth interception in just two weeks of preseason action, showing a defense already finding its rhythm heading into the regular season.
Beyond the dramatic finish, this preseason game offered an early look at Tampa Bay’s young offensive talent, with rookie Emeka Egbuka scoring on a five yard touchdown in the first quarter and second year running back Bucky Irving adding a 15 yard receiving score of his own. That kind of immediate rookie contribution, paired with Irving’s continued development as a dual threat weapon, gave Tampa Bay’s coaching staff encouraging signs about the roster’s depth beyond its established veterans.
Baker Mayfield’s Continued Full Season Excellence
While Mayfield rested for this particular preseason contest, his full 2025 regular season reinforced his standing as one of the league’s more productive and underrated quarterbacks. Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions on the year, posting a 70.0 overall grade while also adding 377 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, numbers that helped keep Tampa Bay competitive in a tough NFC South throughout the season.
That continued production, building on previous strong seasons since joining the Buccaneers, reflected exactly the kind of stable veteran quarterback play that had elevated Tampa Bay into a perennial playoff contender. Mayfield’s combination of accurate passing and dangerous scrambling ability gave the Buccaneers offense a dual threat dimension that complemented the team’s deep receiving corps throughout the year.
Pittsburgh Steelers Key Player Stats
Roman Wilson’s Promising Return From Injury
Wide receiver Roman Wilson, who missed his entire rookie season the previous year due to injury, delivered an encouraging performance in this preseason contest, catching two passes for 72 yards, including a 42 yard catch where he beat two Tampa Bay defenders on a deep throw from backup quarterback Mason Rudolph. That kind of explosive play from a receiver working his way back from a lost rookie season offered genuine hope for his role in Pittsburgh’s offense heading into the year.
Wilson’s performance came while competing directly with Calvin Austin III for the role of the Steelers’ second receiver opposite Metcalf, a competition that added extra stakes to his strong preseason showing. Full details from that contest are available through CBS Sports’ game recap.
Aaron Rodgers’ Championship Caliber First Season
Though Rodgers did not play in this particular preseason game, having participated in a joint practice with Tampa Bay’s players two days earlier, his full 2025 regular season became one of the signature storylines of the entire NFL year. Rodgers threw for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns against just seven interceptions, completing 65.6 percent of his passes in his first season wearing Pittsburgh’s colors, numbers that helped guide the Steelers to their first AFC North title in five years.
That veteran stability, built on Rodgers’ decades of professional experience and precision passing, gave Pittsburgh exactly the kind of quarterback play the organization had been searching for since the retirement of longtime starter Ben Roethlisberger. His clutch performances throughout the season, including a game winning touchdown pass that clinched the division title, validated the significant investment Pittsburgh made in bringing him aboard.
Buccaneers vs Steelers: Key Player Stats at a Glance
| Player | Team | Context | Season Achievement | Notable Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | Steelers | Rested for preseason game | 3,028 yards, 23 TD, 7 INT | Led Steelers to AFC North title |
| Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers | Rested for preseason game | 3,693 yards, 26 TD, 26 rush TD | 70.0 PFF grade on the season |
| Roman Wilson | Steelers | 2 catches, 72 yards | Returning from lost rookie year | Competing for WR2 role |
| Antonio Grier | Buccaneers | 36-yard INT return | Set up game-winning kick | 6th INT in 2 weeks |
Note: The preseason statistics reflect backup and depth player performances, since both teams’ starting quarterbacks rested for this particular contest, while the season totals reflect Rodgers and Mayfield’s full 2025 regular season production.
Team Comparison
This preseason meeting, decided by a dramatic special teams and defensive sequence, offered little indication of just how successful both franchises’ full seasons would become. Tampa Bay’s depth showed up clearly even in this exhibition contest, with rookie and second year contributors like Egbuka and Irving flashing the kind of talent that would support Mayfield’s continued excellence throughout the regular season.
Pittsburgh’s preseason focus on evaluating pieces like Wilson reflected the organization’s broader effort to build a complete receiving corps capable of supporting Rodgers’ precision passing once the regular season began. Both teams’ patient, developmental approach to this particular preseason game ultimately paid dividends, with each franchise going on to capture a division title behind the veteran quarterback play that had rested for this specific exhibition contest.
Head to Head History
Pittsburgh holds a substantial edge in the all time series between these two franchises, leading 10 wins to 2 with a considerable scoring advantage of 283 points to 176 across their historical meetings. That significant historical gap reflects the two franchises’ different eras of sustained success, though this particular preseason meeting and the subsequent successful 2025 seasons for both teams suggested a more competitive balance may be developing between the organizations.
Recent Matchup Recap
The August 2025 preseason meeting unfolded as a back and forth contest despite featuring almost entirely backup and depth players. Tampa Bay built an early lead behind first quarter touchdowns from Egbuka and Irving, only for Pittsburgh to rally behind a Tez Johnson punt return fumble that Trey Sermon converted into a tying touchdown in the third quarter. Logan Woodside’s late interception, returned by Grier, set up McLaughlin’s game winning field goal as time expired.
That dramatic finish, while carrying no bearing on either team’s regular season plans, offered an entertaining preview of the competitive, hard fought football both organizations would go on to play throughout their respective successful 2025 campaigns. Notably, these two teams are also scheduled to meet again during the 2026 regular season, adding a fresh chapter to this developing rivalry.
What to Watch Next
For the Buccaneers, continuing to develop the young talent shown in this preseason game, particularly Egbuka and Irving, while maintaining Mayfield’s steady veteran presence at quarterback will be key to sustaining the team’s playoff caliber form. Tampa Bay’s ability to build meaningful depth even in preseason evaluation games reflected positively on the organization’s overall roster construction.
For the Steelers, Wilson’s continued development and health will be an important storyline as he looks to establish himself in Pittsburgh’s receiving corps following a lost rookie season. Combined with Rodgers’ continued excellence at quarterback, Pittsburgh’s formula of veteran stability complemented by developing young talent showed real promise heading into a season that ultimately delivered the franchise’s first division title in five years.
Both Franchises’ Long Search for Quarterback Stability
This preseason meeting carried extra symbolic weight given both franchises’ long searches for stable, elite quarterback play before landing on Rodgers and continuing to develop around Mayfield. Pittsburgh had cycled through options since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, making the Rodgers signing a significant organizational bet that paid off decisively with the team’s first division title in five years. Tampa Bay’s continued investment in Mayfield, after his own career revitalization following stops with other organizations, similarly reflected patient roster building around a quarterback who had proven doubters wrong.
That shared theme, veteran quarterbacks finding sustained success after periods of uncertainty earlier in their careers, added a compelling narrative backdrop to what was otherwise a fairly standard preseason exhibition contest. Both storylines validated their respective organizations’ willingness to bet on proven, if sometimes overlooked, veteran talent rather than pursuing less certain alternatives at the sport’s most important position.
Building Depth Around Established Stars
Beyond the quarterback storylines, this preseason game highlighted each organization’s broader approach to building complementary talent around their respective stars. Tampa Bay’s rookie class, including Egbuka’s immediate scoring impact, showed a franchise successfully identifying and developing talent capable of contributing right away alongside established veterans like Mayfield and Mike Evans.
Pittsburgh’s evaluation of players like Wilson reflected a similar organizational priority, recognizing that Rodgers’ individual excellence would only translate into sustained team success if the surrounding roster, particularly the receiving corps, could develop sufficient depth and reliability. Wilson’s strong preseason showing, coming after a lost rookie season, offered exactly the kind of encouraging development the Steelers needed heading into a campaign that ultimately delivered the franchise’s first division title in five years.
Conclusion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Pittsburgh Steelers delivered a dramatic preseason finish that, while decided by a backup quarterback interception and a game winning field goal, offered an early preview of two franchises heading toward successful full seasons. Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers, both resting for this particular exhibition contest, went on to deliver standout individual campaigns that helped their respective teams capture division titles in 2025.
With both franchises building sustained success around veteran quarterback stability and developing complementary young talent, this preseason meeting offered a fitting preview of the competitive, well coached football both organizations would showcase throughout the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of the Buccaneers vs Steelers preseason game?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won 17-14 on a Chase McLaughlin field goal as time expired, set up by an Antonio Grier interception return.
How did Aaron Rodgers perform during his full 2025 season with Pittsburgh?
Rodgers threw for 3,028 yards with 23 touchdowns against seven interceptions, leading the Steelers to their first AFC North title in five years.
How did Baker Mayfield perform for Tampa Bay in 2025?
Mayfield threw for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 377 rushing yards, posting a 70.0 overall grade for the season.
Who stood out for Pittsburgh in this preseason matchup?
Wide receiver Roman Wilson, returning from a rookie season lost to injury, caught two passes for 72 yards, including a 42-yard gain where he beat two defenders.
What is the all-time head-to-head record between the Buccaneers and Steelers?
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 10 wins to 2, with a scoring advantage of 283 points to 176 across their historical meetings.
