UPSET: To defeat an opponent that is considered more formidable. The Bucs will try to just that today in Pittsburgh as the Steelers are riding high 
coming off their Sunday night dismantling of NFC South leading Carolina Panthers. In the Bucs favor is the return of Gerald McCoy, perhaps their best player. But in concert, RE Michael Johnson may return as well, perhaps giving the Bucs the pass rush they had in the preseason when the defense looked like perhaps it could be dominant again.
But on the other side of the ball, Austin Sefarian-Jenkins may return to find a new QB throwing the ball, as Mike Glennon finds himself in the same position he was in 1 year ago exactly, taking over for another Josh, this time McCown instead of Freeman. It’s an opportunity for Glennon to show what he can do with the 10 days of practicing as the No.1 QB with the first string.
The Bucs will want to get that bad taste out of their mouths after that beating at the hands of Atlanta. A Win will do wonders for not only the season, but the players as well.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR…
Team
• Tampa Bay forced four turnovers at Atlanta (9/18). If the team forces four 
or more at Pittsburgh, it will mark the first time the Buccaneers have had consecutive games with at least four takeaways since 2002 (11/17 vs. Carolina-11/24 vs. Green Bay).
• A win against Pittsburgh would mark Tampa Bay’s first ever road victory against the Steelers and their first victory in the state of Pennsylvania since 2006 (10/22, at Philadelphia).
LB Lavonte David
• David has 8.0 career sacks, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (9.0 from 1993-99) for eighth, three more to pass Winston Moss (10.5 from 1987-90) for seventh and five more to pass Kevin Murphy (12.0 from 1986-91) and Hugh Green (12.4 from 1981-85) for the fourth-most sacks by a linebacker in franchise history.
• David has six career interceptions, and needs two more to pass Hardy Nickerson (seven from 1993-99) for sixth, three more to pass Scot Brantley (eight from 1980-87), four more to pass Cecil Johnson (nine from 1977- 85) and Richard Wood (nine from 1976-84) for third and five more to pass Dave Lewis (10 from 1977-81) for the second-most interceptions by a linebacker in franchise history.
LB Mason Foster
• Foster has two career interceptions returned for a touchdown and, with one more, can tie CB Wayne Haddix (three from 1990-91), CB Aqib Talib (three from 2008-12) and CB Mike Washington (three from 1976-1984) for the third-most interceptions returned for a touchdown in franchise history.
WR Vincent Jackson
• Jackson has nine 100-yard receiving games as a Buccaneer, the fifth- most in franchise history. He needs three more to tie Joey Galloway (11 from 2004-08) for fourth-most, four more to tie Keyshawn Johnson (12 from 2000-03 – one in postseason) for third-most 100-yard receiving games in franchise history.
• Jackson has 16 receiving touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to pass Reidel Anthony (16 from 1997-2001) for 10th-most and two more to pass Gerald Carter (17 from 1981-87) and Keyshawn Johnson (17 from 2000-03) for eighth-most in franchise history.
P Michael Koenen
• Koenen has 69 punts inside the 20 with the Buccaneers and needs three more to pass Frank Garcia (71 from 1983-87) for the third-most punts inside the 20 in franchise history.
RB Doug Martin
• Martin has 1,919 rushing yards as a Buccaneer and needs 21 more to pass LeGarrette Blount (1,939 from 2010-12) for the 10th-most and 137 more to pass Earnest Graham (2,047 from 2004-11) for ninth-most rushing yards in team history.
• Martin has six 100-yard rushing games as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Mike Alstott (seven from 1996-06), LeGarrette Blount (seven from 2010-12) and Reggie Cobb (seven from 1990-93) for seventh-most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history.
• Martin has 12 rushing touchdowns as a Buccaneer and needs one more to tie Doug Williams (13 from 1978-1982) and LeGarrette Blount (13 from 2010-12) for 10th-most, three more to tie Earnest Graham (15 from 2004- 11) and Lars Tate (15 from 1988-89) for eighth-most in franchise history.
DT Gerald McCoy
• McCoy has four career multi-sack games and needs one more to tie Chidi Ahanatou (five from 1993-2004) for the sixth-most, two more to tie David Logan (six from 1979-86) for fifth-most and three more to tie Broderick Thomas (seven from 1989-93) for fourth-most multi-sack games in franchise history.
• McCoy has 19.5 career sacks and needs one more to pass Anthony McFarland (20.0 from 1999-2006) for the fourth-most sacks by a defensive tackle in team history.
RB Bobby Rainey
• Rainey gained for 105 yards from scrimmage at Atlanta (9/18), after gaining 174 yards against St. Louis 99/14). With at least 100 yards from scrimmage against Pittsburgh, Rainey will be the first Buccaneer to record three consecutive games of 100-plus scrimmage yards since RB Doug Martin in 2012 (six consecutive: 10/14 vs. Kansas City – 11/18 at Carolina).
Atlanta 56, Tampa Bay 14 (Sunday, September 18, 2014)
ATLANTA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to Atlanta in Week 3, where they faced a tough day on all sides of the ball, falling 56-14. Deferring to the second half after winning the coin toss, Tampa Bay faced the Atlanta offense first. Quarterback Matt Ryan made quick work of the opening drive, moving down the field and scoring on a three-yard pass to wide receiver Harry Douglas. The Buccaneers punted their own opening possession. On the following drive, an Atlanta fumble was recovered by safety Mark Barron, but Barron fumbled the ball himself, and the Falcons managed to regain possession and continue their drive, which ended with an eight-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Julio Jones, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Josh McCown was intercepted deep in Tampa Bay territory on the next drive, and safety Kemal Ishmael was able to return the pick 23 yards to make the score 21-0. Unfortunately for the Buccaneers, the Falcons regained the ball quickly following a forced fumble and were able to parlay the error into another touchdown, this time on a 20-yard rush by wide receiver Devin Hester. Following a Buccaneers punt, the Falcons drove to the Tampa Bay 11 where cornerback Leonard Johnson forced a fumble, which was recovered by defensive end Scott Solomon. However, Tampa Bay was forced to punt, and Hester was able to return the ball 62 yards for a touchdown.
McCown injured his hand on the next possession, and, following traded punts, Mike Glennon came in at quarterback for the Buccaneers. The Falcons attempted and missed a 59-yard field goal late in the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime at 35-0. Opening the third quarter, the Buccaneers drove to near midfield, but a forced fumble turned the ball over to the Falcons. Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David forced a fumble of his own during the ensuing Atlanta possession, and safety Dashon Goldson managed to keep the ball inbounds, giving David a chance to recover the ball and return it to the Buccaneers. After a deep third-down attempt went incomplete, Tampa Bay punted, and Atlanta put together another scoring drive as Ryan hit wide receiver Julio Jones on a 40-yard touchdown pass. On the first play of the following Buccaneers drive, a bad snap was recovered by the Falcons and returned to the Tampa Bay 2, where running back Steven Jackson scored on the next play. Atlanta brought the score to 56-0 on its next possession with a 38-yard rush by running back Antone Smith. The Buccaneers were able to put up their first points next, scoring on an eight-minute drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass from Glennon to wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Tampa Bay linebacker Danny Lansanah then intercepted Falcons quarterback T.J. Yates, returning the pick 27 yards for a touchdown and the 56-14 score late in the fourth quarter, the score upon which the game would end.
NOTES FROM THE GAME-
– On Atlanta’s second drive of the game, CB Alterraun Verner forced a fumble from Falcons TE Levine Toilolo, which was recovered by S Mark Barron. It was Verner’s third career forced fumble and his first with Tampa Bay. The fumble recovery was the second of Barron’s career.
– Near the end of the first quarter, LB Dane Fletcher and DT Akeem Spence combined for a sack on Atlanta QB Matt Ryan. It was Fletcher’s first partial sack with the Buccaneers and Spence’s first of the season. Fletcher now has 4.5 career sacks; Spence has 1.5.
– With Atlanta in the redzone, Buccaneers CB Leonard Johnson stripped Falcons RB Antone Smith, with Tampa Bay DE Scott Solomon recovering the ball at Tampa’s 1-yard line. It is Johnson’s second career forced fumble and the first fumble recovery of Solomon’s career.
– WR Mike Evans caught a career-long 36-yard reception in the second quarter against Atlanta. Evans finished the game with four catches for 52 yards
– After QB Josh McCown exited the game in the second quarter with a hand injury, QB Mike Glennon made his season debut. Glennon went 17- of-24 for 121 yards and one touchdown.
– On the opening drive of the second half, Glennon converted on third down with a 19-yard scramble, the longest rush of his career. The 19-yard run is the longest by a Buccaneers quarterback since Josh Freeman ran for 25 yards against Dallas in 2011 (12/17/11).
– On Atlanta’s first drive of the third quarter, LB Lavonte David forced a fumble from Falcons RB Devonta Freeman, which David recovered after S Dashon Goldson saved the ball from going out of bounds. David now has three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.
– Tampa Bay’s three fumble recoveries against Atlanta were the most by the team since recovering four against Washington in 2007 (11/25/07). That game also marks the last time the team has forced at least four fumbles.
– RB Bobby Rainey had a career high seven catches for 64 yards, both of which led the team. His seven catches are the most by a Tampa Bay running back since 2012 (7, Doug Martin vs. St. Louis, 12/2312) and his 64 receiving yards are the most since Martin tallied 79 at Minnesota (10/25/12).
– Tampa Bay’s 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter lasted 8:01, each marking season highs. The drive ended with WR Vincent Jackson catching his first touchdown pass of the season, and the first scoring toss from QB Mike Glennon on the year.
– On the ensuing drive, LB Danny Lansanah recorded his first career interception, returning it 27 yards for a touchdown.
LAST MEETING
Pittsburgh 38, Tampa Bay 13, (September 26, 2010)
TAMPA – Tampa Bay forced a turnover on the game’s first possession, setting up an early lead, but ultimately the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers took advantage of mistakes to hand the Buccaneers their first loss of the season. On the second play from scrimmage, QB Charlie Batch was picked off by CB Aqib Talib and, four plays later, K Connor Barth gave the Bucs a 3-0 lead on a 40-yard field goal. Following consecutive three-and-outs, Pittsburgh began its third drive near midfield and Batch hit WR Mike Wallace for a 46-yard touchdown pass and a 7-3 lead two plays later. The Buccaneers responded on their ensuing possession, driving 74 yards in 15 plays to cut the lead to 7-6 on Barth’s 24-yard field goal. However, Pittsburgh came right back to push the lead to 14-6 as RB Rashard Mendenhall scored from three yards out on the nextdrive. TheBuccaneersturnedtheballoverontheirensuingdrive, giving Pittsburgh possession near midfield, and, two plays later, a deep Batch pass bounced out of Talib’s hands and into Wallace’s for a 41- yard touchdown and 21-6 Steelers lead. The Buccaneers were forced to punt on their next drive and the Steelers put the game out of reach on their ensuing possession as Batch found WR Hines Ward in the back of the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown with 0:16 remaining in the first half. Pittsburgh extended its lead to 31-6 late in the third quarter as K Jeff Reed connected on a 24-yard field goal. On Tampa Bay’s next possession, Freeman threw to WR Sammie Stroughter, who bobbled the pass, allowing DE Brett Keisel an interception run for 79 yards and a touchdown, giving the Steelers a 38-6 advantage. Following a LB Quincy Black interception, the Buccaneers found the endzone on RB LeGarrette Blount’s one-yard touchdown run, the first of his career, to provide the game’s final points with less than two minutes remaining.
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
It was a one-sided affair when the winless expansion Bucs played the eventual AFC Central champion Steelers in Pittsburgh (12/5/76)… The Steelers ran 58 times for 222 yards, 118 of them by Rocky Bleier, who also scored three touchdowns, while WR Lynn Swann caught five passes for 92 yards and two scores… Bucs QBs Terry Hanratty and Steve Spurrier were sacked five times, two by Mean Joe Greene, and completed just five of 14 passes for 57 yards and two picks… The Bucs outgained the Steelers 369-229 in the next meeting (11/9/80), but eventually fell 24-21 in Tampa Stadium… Doug Williams completed 31-of-45 passes for 302 yards, two TDs and one pick, hooking up with TE Jimmie Giles six times for 128 yards… However, Williams’ one interception occurred at the Steelers’ eight-yard in the fourth quarter, and the Bucs were also hurt by a blocked punt returned for a touchdown… The Steelers rallied for all of their points in the fourth quarter in a 17-12 victory at Three Rivers Stadium (10/30/83), as the Bucs offense got inside the Pittsburgh 15 three times but came away with only field goals… Bucs RB James Wilder carried 42 times – still the team record for a non-overtime game – for 126 yards, but Pittsburgh WR Wayne Capers caught five passes for 74 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown… In the 1989 season finale (12/24/89) in Tampa, WR Mark Carrier added six receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns to his record-breaking season (86-1,422) but the Bucs dropped a 31-22 decision to finish a 5-11 season… Pittsburgh QB Bubby Brister completed just seven passes in 15 tries, but four of them went to WR Louis Lipps for 137 yards and two scores… A dominant defensive performance led to a season-high five takeaways in a 16-3 Tampa Bay win (12/13/98)… With the defense containing RB Jerome Bettis (63 rushing yards) and QB Kordell Stewart (88 passing yards, three interceptions), the Bucs were content to run the ball 45 times in 64 plays, gaining 144 yards and a touchdown… Brad Johnson passed the ball 40 times, completing 24 of them for 283 yards and one touchdown (10/21/10), and 10 of his passes were caught by Keyshawn Johnson for 159 yards… The Bucs fell to the Steelers by a score of 17-10, behind a dominant performance by Jerome Bettis who rushed 17 times for 143 yards and one touchdown, and also passed the ball once for 32 yards and one touchdown… The Steelers topped the Buccaneers 38-13 at Raymond James (9/26/10), led by Pittsburgh QB Charlie Batch’s three touchdown passes and 143 rushing yards from RB Rashard Mendenhall…
GETTING TO KNOW MIKE TOMLIN
Mike Tomlin was named the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history on January 22, 2007. Hired at the age of 34, Tomlin became only the third head coach hired by the Steelers since 1969.
Through seven seasons, Tomlin has accomplished many things that have never been done in the team’s storied history. His 71-41 record (.634) is tied for the best start in franchise his- tory, and he became the youngest head
coach in NFL history to both coach in and win a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. By winning the Super Bowl in only his second season as a head coach, he also became the fastest to win a Super Bowl title in Steelers history.
Tomlin has reached the playoffs four times in his seven seasons, includ- ing two trips to the Super Bowl (XLIII and XLV).
Tomlin is one of only seven coaches in league history to win a Super Bowl within his first two seasons as an NFL head coach. Tomlin is the only head coach in Steelers history to lead the team to two Super Bowls in his first four seasons at the helm, including an appearance against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. He is one of only two Steelers head coaches to win three division titles in his first four seasons.
Tomlin was the NFL’s second-youngest head coach in 2007, and he be- came only the second Steelers’ coach in team history to win at least 10 games during his first year at the helm. The Steelers posted a 7-1 record at home in 2007 and were 5-1 in the AFC North (3-0 at home).
Tomlin spent the 2006 season as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive co- ordinator. That season, the Vikings ranked eighth in the NFL in total de- fense and first against the run while not allowing a 100-yard rusher the entire season.
Tomlin was the defensive backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001-05. In 2002, Tomlin guided one of the most productive defen- sive backfields in the NFL, culminating with its performance in Super Bowl XXXVII. The secondary recorded four of the team’s five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns, to help Tampa Bay capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.
Before joining Tampa Bay’s staff, Tomlin served two seasons as the de- fensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati (1999-00). He took over a secondary that ranked 111th in the nation in pass defense in 1998 and helped them improve to 61st overall in his first season. Under Tomlin’s direction in 2000, the Bearcats ranked eighth in the nation in interceptions as well as fourth nationally in total turnovers.
Prior to joining the Cincinnati staff, Tomlin had a short stint on the coach- ing staff at Tennessee-Martin and then spent two seasons at Arkansas State, coaching wide receivers in 1997 before switching to defensive backs in 1998. Tomlin spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, where he worked with the Tiger defensive backs and special teams units. He began his coaching career in 1995 as wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute.
Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver at William & Mary (1990- 94) and finished his career with 101 receptions for 2,054 yards and 20 touchdown catches. A first-team All-Yankee Conference selection in 1994, he established a school record with a 20.2 yards-per-catch aver- age.
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