Rodgers Erases 16-3 Deficit in Tampa, Ties Manning at 539 TD Passes

The comeback

The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed 16-3 entering the fourth quarter in Tampa and then scored 23 points across the fourth quarter and overtime to win 26-19. Through three quarters they had 3 points, 145 yards, and a 1-of-7 mark on third down; Aaron Rodgers carried a 53.8 passer rating. Then he posted a 122.9 in the fourth quarter and overtime. m:…2575 m:…5737

The rally flipped on two targets: DK Metcalf went from 2 catches for 12 yards through three quarters to 9 for 81 in the fourth and overtime, and he and Germie Bernard each finished with 11 catches. Rodgers' game-winning drive was 12 plays and 70 yards, ending on a 6-yard touchdown pass to Bernard on the first possession of overtime. m:…2575 m:…4700

Five hundred thirty-nine

Rodgers also tied Peyton Manning for third on the all-time touchdown pass list with 539, per Baltimore's team feed. A league-wide milestone — and it arrived with his own head coach missing from the sideline at halftime: Mike McCarthy spent the break in the locker room while the medical staff looked at his sore foot, per steelers.com. m:…9013 m:…2575

The defense held the door

The Steelers' defense did the quiet work: Jamel Dean intercepted Jalon Daniels at the Tampa Bay 43 and returned it 40 yards, part of a franchise-record six pass breakups, and Daylen Everette picked off Daniels on 3rd-and-7 in the fourth quarter. Bernard and Dean both earned game balls, per steelers.com. m:…2575 m:…1485

Dean's 40-yard return set up the offense at the Tampa Bay 3, per steelers.com — and Everette's fourth-quarter pick was personal redemption of a kind: he had replaced Dean at cornerback late in the first quarter. m:…1485 m:…2575

Tampa's own recap tells the other half: the Buccaneers managed 224 total yards, Daniels finished 22-of-43 for 164 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and Jalen Ramsey sacked Daniels on fourth down to end the Bucs' final possession. The Bucs were 6-of-19 on third down. m:…4700

Rookie David Walker was Tampa's bright spot: 2.0 sacks, five tackles and three quarterback hits, while fellow rookies Rueben Bain Jr. and Keionte Scott each recorded their first career sacks — small consolation in defeat. m:…4700

Tampa's defense held Pittsburgh to 300 net yards, and Chase McLaughlin made all four of his field goals — the Bucs' problems were on the other side of the ball. m:…4700

Tampa's hole

The Buccaneers fell to 1-5, and Todd Bowles isn't sugarcoating it: "We've got no margin for error," he said — adding that the Bucs have to learn how to finish ballgames. m:…7660 m:…4700

Daniels has started the last three games and Tampa is 1-2 in them, while Baker Mayfield recovers from a dislocated thumb suffered in Week 3 against Minnesota. Bowles said he wouldn't know about Mayfield's Week 7 status until Wednesday's practice — and the 3-2 Panthers are waiting in Charlotte. m:…7660

First place, sort of

The win moved Pittsburgh to 4-2 and into what steelers.com calls a mathematical tie with Cleveland and Baltimore atop the AFC North. It was the coaching staff's first road win, second straight win, and first overtime win. Next stop: Paris, with kickoff at 9:30 a.m. Pittsburgh time. m:…5737 m:…1485

McCarthy's staff plays in France before a rematch with Cleveland seven days after the Tampa game. m:…5737 m:…1485