Steelers vs. Buccaneers, Preseason Week 2: Final Score and Highlights

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be host for just one of their three 2025 preseason games, and this is the second preseason game of the season. The Steelers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with both teams looking for a victory in the exhibition season, but also to get their players more work before the real games begin.

This was the second game action for many of the Steelers players and the hope is the team can build off the success they saw throughout the first two weeks of training camp at Saint Vincent College and the joint practice with Tampa Bay held this Thursday.

In this article we will highlight the most important aspect of the game, the highlights. By quarter we will have big plays, including scoring plays, right here as well as score updates as the game progresses.

Let the 2025 preseason continue!

1st Quarter

The Buccaneers started the game with the football, and it was Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback for Tampa Bay. The drive moved the wrong direction, and resulted in a quick 3-and-out.

Pittsburgh’s first drive started at their own 36-yard line, and it too was short lived. Although, it wasn’t a punt, but a Mason Rudolph interception which gave the ball right back to Tampa Bay.

An opening drive INT for Zyon McCollum

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The Buccaneers started their second drive at the Pittsburgh 48, and it looked as if the drive was going to stall and end in a 43-yard field goal. However on that kick the Steelers were penalized for running into the kicker, giving the offense new life. On the second play of the next series, Bridgewater hit running back Bucky Irving on a wheel route for the touchdown.

Bucky Irving looking like a WR on this TD 🙌

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The extra point was good, giving Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead with 9:15 left in the quarter.

Pittsburgh’s next drive lasted just three plays before the ball was punted back to the Buccaneers, and the return was one which set up the Buccaneers with great field position. Starting at the 45-yard line, it took just one play for Bridgewater to get the offense into Pittsburgh territory. It took just one 4th down conversion before the Buccaneers added to their score total, this time a Bridgewater pass to rookie Emeka Embuka for the score.

Emeka Egubka with a highlight-reel catch on Teddy Bridgewater's 2nd TD pass of the first quarter 😳

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— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025

The extra point was good, making the score 14-0 with 3:20 left in QTR1.

Needing a spark, the Steelers took to the air on the first play of their next drive, and it was 43-yard strike to Roman Wilson. After that play, it was defensive pass interference which set up the Steelers offense at the two-yard line. Two plays later it was Rudolph finding Brandon Johnson for the TD.

Brandon Johnson snatches it to get the @Steelers on the board 🙌

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The extra point was good, making the score 14-7 with 2:14 left in the opening quarter.

Kyle Trask came into the game, and the Tampa Bay drive was a quick three-and-out before sending the ball back to Pittsburgh with 29 seconds left in the quarter.

The score would hold with Skylar Thompson in as the Steelers quarterback.

Score after the 1st Quarter: Buccaneers 14, Steelers 7

2nd Quarter

Thompson picked up where Rudolph left off, and two big strikes to both Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller put the Steelers in Tampa Bay territory. However, the drive stalled and the Steelers had to punt the ball back to the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay’s drive was equally as short, and the Pittsburgh offense got back to work and continued to gain chunks on offense. It started with a 14-yard scamper by Kaleb Johnson, and was followed by a strike to Scotty Miller to get the offense into the red-zone. The Steelers had their second turnover of the game when Thompson’s pass intended for Lance McCutcheon hit off his hands and was intercepted.

Kindle Vildor gets the @Buccaneers 2nd INT of the half 💪

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The interception didn’t result in points, but another punt with 3:13 remaining in the half.

Both teams exchanged possessions before halftime.

Score at Halftime: Buccaneers 14, Steelers 7

3rd Quarter

The Steelers started with the football to start the second half, but the drive was short-lived and the Buccaneers were receiving a punt with 12:52 left in the 3rd quarter.

More offensive ineptitude ensued for both teams, and things changed when the Buccaneers had a fumble on a punt return, setting the Steelers up in the red-zone.

Steelers generate a turnover on special teams!

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Facing a third-and-goal, Trey Sermon plunged into the end-zone for the touchdown.

Trey Sermon finds the end zone 😤

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The extra point was good, tying the score 14-14 with 3:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

The Steelers had the football as the quarter came to a close.

Score after the 3rd Quarter: Steelers 14, Buccaneers 14

4th Quarter

The two teams, with their 3rd and 4th string players in the game, struggled to move the football, but it was the Steelers who found themselves in scoring position next. However, when a potential touchdown pass sailed just out of the hands of Roc Taylor, it meant another field goal attempt.

The 43-yard attempt was no good, keeping the tie score in tact with 9:50 left in regulation.

As Tampa Bay was driving down the field, a big hit by D’Shawn Jamison jarred the football loose and the Steelers recovered the fumble. It was the Steelers second takeaway of the game.

BIG HIT & RECOVERY 🙌

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— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 17, 2025

The takeaway resulted in a turnover on downs, and Tampa Bay had the football with 5:35 remaining in the game to take a lead. Not to be outdone, the Buccaneers had a turnover on downs of their own near midfield when the Steelers defense stopped the ball carrier short of the yardage to gain.

With 4:08 remaining, and facing a 3rd down, quarterback Logan Woodside stared down his target and the ball was intercepted. Suddenly, the Buccaneers had the football near field goal range at the two-minute warning. A huge 3rd down conversion allowed the Buccaneers to play for the game-winning field goal.

The 42-yard kick was good, giving Tampa Bay the preseason win, and handing the Steelers their first preseason loss.

FINAL SCORE: Buccaneers 17, Steelers 14

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 of the NFL Preseason.