The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-19 in overtime on Sunday, and Aaron Rodgers' 6-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard in the extra period decided it.
Chris Boswell hit 4 field goals, including a 58-yarder that tied the game late in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay led for most of the afternoon and still lost at home again.
How It Happened
Tampa Bay controlled the first half. Chase McLaughlin opened the scoring with a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter, and Jalon Daniels found Emeka Egbuka for a 2-yard touchdown early in the second.
McLaughlin added a 47-yarder before the break. Boswell answered with a 52-yard field goal as the half expired to get Pittsburgh on the board.
The third quarter belonged to McLaughlin again. His 33-yard kick extended the lead heading into the fourth, and Pittsburgh had managed only a field goal to that point.
The Fourth-Quarter Rally
Pittsburgh scored a touchdown and three field goals in the final quarter. Rodgers hit Darnell Washington for a 5-yard touchdown early in the period, and Boswell followed with a 39-yard field goal to pull within a field goal.
Boswell then tied it from 58 yards with under two minutes left. Barely half a minute later he added a 20-yarder, giving Pittsburgh its first lead.
Tampa Bay had one more answer. McLaughlin drilled a 53-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to force overtime.
Overtime
Rodgers ended it in the extra period, finding Bernard from 6 yards out, and Boswell's extra point closed the scoring.
The Steelers won the clock all day, holding the ball for nearly 39 minutes.
Key Performers
Chris Boswell: 4 FG (52, 39, 58, 20), 2 XP
Aaron Rodgers: 2 TD passes (Darnell Washington 5, Germie Bernard 6)
Chase McLaughlin: 4 FG (43, 47, 33, 53), 1 XP
Pittsburgh passing: 33-49, 211 net YDS, 1 INT
Tampa Bay passing: 22-43, 122 net YDS, 2 INT
Neither offense moved the ball efficiently. Neither team averaged even 4 yards per play, and both teams were sacked 5 times for 42 yards.
The difference came in the air. Tampa Bay completed barely half its passes and threw 2 interceptions, while Pittsburgh threw for far more net yards and turned it over once.
What It Means
Pittsburgh moves to 4-2. The Steelers are 3-0 at home and 1-2 on the road, and this is their only road win so far, so the split still says more about them than Sunday did.
Tampa Bay falls to 1-5 and 0-4 at home. Its only win has come on the road, where the Buccaneers are 1-1.
That home record is the story of the season. Tampa Bay led by two scores entering the fourth quarter at home and still could not close.