NFL: Buccaneers suffer 20-18 loss to Steelers

Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought they could close an eight-point deficit late in the game, but their efforts fell short and they suffered a surprise 20-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Last in the North American Division, with just one win in five games this season, the Steelers inflicted the Bucs’ third loss of the season. Tampa Bay is now posting a .500 return.

Brady finished the game with 25 completions for 243 yards and a touchdown pass thrown. Chris Godwin was his go-to target in the game with six receptions and 95 yards.

The Steelers managed to overshadow the loss of quarterback Kenny Pickett, who left the game after suffering a concussion in the third quarter, to race to victory. As a substitute, Mitch Trubisky completed nine passes for 144 yards and joined Chase Claypool for a touchdown.

Pittsburgh was the first team to score in the first quarter when Pickett joined Najee Harris on six yards for the major. It was Pickett’s first touchdown pass in the NFL.

Ryan Succop and Chris Boswell then traded a few field goals throughout the game to bring the score to 13-12 in favor of the Steelers with a quarter to play.

Then, Trubisky worked his magic by scouting Chase Claypool to increase the Steelers’ priority to eight points over the Buccaneers. Canadian Claypool scored his first touchdown of the campaign after a tough start to the season.

With less than five minutes left in the game, Leonard Fournette scored a touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Brady, but Tampa Bay missed the two-point conversion and was never able to close the remaining gap.