Steelers vs. Buccaneers: Five Bold Predictions

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Now that the world’s most annoying opening theme is stuck in your head, there is only one way to get it out:

Check out this week’s bold predictions.

1. Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard each score a touchdown. (Evan)

The Chiefs’ offense presented all kinds of issues for the Steelers, and the result was Kansas City finishing the game with 42 points on the board. Travis Kelce was responsible for 14 of those and there is no reason to think the Bucs can’t get the same type of production out of both Brate and Howard.

Kelce was targeted eight times and hauled in seven of those targets. The interesting fact on that was the Steelers were mixing up their coverages on him, but it wasn’t enough. He was covered by seven different players on the eight targets and no one could stop him.

The Bucs wil make some big plays with Howard, then will finish off the longer, more time-consuming drives with a play to Brate in the redzone. Tampa Bay may have to utilize more 12 personnel sets as well to offset the Steelers’ pass rush.

Brate has zero receptions on the season, so it’s time the Bucs got him involved. This will be the week to do so.

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster goes for at least 150 yards. (Evan)

Yea, this one sucks, but some things in life are inevitable and this is certainly one of them.

Smith-Schuster is the best slot receiver in the league. M.J. Stewart looks to have a bright future ahead of him, but is still learning the game. Speed was never Stewart’s game and that was exposed against the Eagles after Nelson Agholor took a short crossing pass and outran Stewart for a 50-yard gain.

Stewart has a chance to throw Smith-Schuster off his game at the line of scrimmage, but if he gets past Stewart then all bets are off.

The rest of the defense will be dealing with Antonio Brown, so expect the young anime fan to have a big night.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick throws for 400 yards and four touchdowns yet again. (Alex)

The Buccaneers offense is humming and the Steelers defense is, well, just not that good. They just gave up six passing touchdowns to Patrick Mahomes last weekend and now they have the task of stopping an offense with even more weapons then Kansas City.

The 75 yard passes may not be their all night long, but Fitzpatrick should be able to carve this defense up if the offensive line continues its stellar play. Oh, and by the way, if Fitzpatrick makes it three games with 400+ and 4 touchdowns, he should be the starter come week six, no matter what happens in week four.

4. Both teams combine for over 900 yards of total offense. (Alex)

This game has the makings of a good old-fashioned shootout. The Buccaneers are first in YPG with 482.5, while the Steelers are second with 473.5. I fully expect the Steelers to come out slinging. Big Ben has thrown a league high 101 passes through two games. I mean that’s just absurd for a quarterback who is in his 15th season. I still don’t fully trust Ryan Smith and who knows how Brent Grimes will play coming off of a groin injury. Both should see plenty of Antonio Brown and that’s very worrisome.

John A. Babiak, @Photog_JohnB

The weapons of the Buccaneers are well documented, but these are the best two offenses in football and I think we could be looking at an all-time classic game come Monday night.

5. Chandler Catanzaro finally doesn’t miss a kick.

Crazy, right? I mean the Buccaneers are cursed at this point, but I am going to put my faith in the football kicking odds. The missed PAT could’ve cost Tampa Bay dearly last week, but luckily for Catanzaro it never got to that point. With everyone predicting a shootout, this game could very well come down to which kicker misses first.