The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-19 on Sunday, October 18, 2026, according to ESPN's game recap. In its report card on the win, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette singled out Germie Bernard and DK Metcalf for stepping up in the victory.
The Post-Gazette also published a separate Week 6 analysis arguing that Aaron Rodgers, even on what it described as an off day, showed up when it mattered most. Steelers.com added its own commentary on the result over Tampa Bay, while the Buccaneers' official site posted a rapid reaction to the 26-19 outcome.
The Post-Gazette's report card frames the win around contributions beyond the quarterback position, with Bernard and Metcalf drawing particular praise. The paper did not, in the material available, detail specific statistics for either player.
The result moves the Steelers' Week 6 slate into the books, and the coverage from both Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay outlets points to a game decided by more than one phase of play.
What to watch next: how the Post-Gazette's grades and the team's own review of the Tampa Bay win shape the Steelers' approach in Week 7.