The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (209), led by backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, met the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1-1), led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown, in Week 3 NFL Monday Night Football game on September 24, 2018 (9/24/18) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
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Here's the AP recap:
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Capping a tumultuous week in which star receiver Antonio Brown made headlines by shouting at an assistant coach on the sidelines and getting into a spat on social media, the Steelers (1-1-1) built a 20-point lead before holding on for their first win.
Vance McDonald scored on a 75-yard pass play and finished with four catches for 112 yards. Brown and Ryan Switzer also had first-half TD receptions for Pittsburgh, which led 30-10 at halftime.
The Steelers' defense forced four turnovers, including three first-half interceptions of Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 35-year-old journeyman who threw for 819 yards and eight touchdowns in two victories to begin Tampa Bay's season.
Fitzpatrick, the only player in NFL history to open a season with consecutive games with over 400 yards passing and four touchdowns, tried his best to create "FitzMagic" again in his third start in place of the suspended Jameis Winston.
He led a long field goal drive in the third quarter, and then tossed fourth-quarter TD passes of 4 yards to Chris Godwin and 24 yards to Mike Evans to rally the Bucs (2-1) within 30-27 with 5:43 remaining.
The Bucs got the ball back with just over three minutes left; however, the Steelers forced a punt and Roethlisberger ran out the clock.
Fitzpatrick finished 30 of 50 for 411 yards and three TDs. Roethlisberger was 30 of 38 with one interception, completing nine passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 116 yards and six to Brown for 50 yards. His on-field chemistry with Brown appeared fine in the first game since Brown responded to a former team employee on social media by suggesting the club trade him if it wants to find out how productive he can be without Roethlisberger.
Fitzpatrick threw interceptions on three consecutive pass attempts during one stretch of the second quarter. The first stopped a promising drive at the Steelers' 6, and linebacker Bud Dupree returned the last one 10 yards for a touchdown that put the Steelers up 23-7.
Roethlisberger also turned a fumble into a 27-yard TD pass to Brown and moved the Steelers 75 yards in nine plays just before the half to make it 30-10 on his 1-yard scoring pass to Switzer.
RING OF HONOR
Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, who won a Super Bowl ring as player with the Steelers and as a first-time head coach transformed Tampa Bay from a laughingstock into a championship contender, was inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor at halftime.
He's the 12th member, joining Hall of Famers Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks; coaches John McKay and Jon Gruden; late owner Malcolm Glazer; and players John Lynch, Mike Alstott, Doug Williams, Jimmie Giles and Paul Gruber.
Dungy and his wife, Lauren, accompanied Tampa Bay's captains to midfield for the coin toss. Three of the couple's children -- Jade, Justin and Jason -- led the team out of the tunnel as the honorary flag runners.
INJURIES
Steelers: Played without All-Pro guard David DeCastro (hand), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring) and safety Morgan Burnett (groin). Pittsburgh didn't report any injuries during the game.
Buccaneers: Defensive tackle Beau Allen (foot) was inactive after being injured during Tampa Bay's Week 2 victory over Philadelphia. S Chris Conte left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.
UP NEXT
Steelers: Home vs. Baltimore on Sunday night.
Buccaneers: Visit Chicago on Sunday in the first game Winston is eligible to play.
Here's what you need to know:
Who: Steelers vs. Buccaneers
What: NFL, Week 3
When: Monday, Sept. 24, 2018
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
Time: 8:15 p.m. Eastern
TV: ESPN
Livestream: WatchESPN
Line: Steelers -1 (Over/under: 53.5)
Steelers notes: QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 39 of 60 (65 pct.) for 452 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 104.3 rating & rushed for TD last week. In last meeting, completed 29 of 40 (72.5 pct.) for 314 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 120.2 rating. Aims for 3rd in row vs. NFC with 300+ pass yards. Has 51,852 career pass yards & surpassed HOFer JOHN ELWAY (51,475) for 7th-most in NFL history. * RB JAMES CONNER had 65 scrimmage yards (48 rec., 17 rush) & rush TD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with rush TD. Has 257 scrimmage yards in 2018, most by NFL RB. Is 1 of 2 NFL RBs (TODD GURLEY) with 150+ rush yards (152) & 3+ rush TDs (3). * WR ANTONIO BROWN has 70 catches (8.8 per game) for 885 yards (110.6 per game) & 7 TDs in past 8 vs. NFC. Had 7 catches for 131 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. In past 2 on road, has 17 catches for 194 yards & 2 TDs. Aims for 3rd road game in row with TD catch. WR JU JU SMITHSCHUSTER had career-high 13 catches for 121 yards & TD in Week 2. Has 27 catches (9 per game) for 383 rec. yards (127.7 per game) & 2 TDs in past 3. Aims for 4th in row with 100+ rec. yards. TE JESSE JAMES had career-high 138 rec. yards & TD last week. * LB T.J. WATT ties for 3rd in NFL with 3 sacks. DT CAMERON HEYWARD had 2 TFL & sack in last meeting. Has 3 sacks in past 2 vs. NFC. LB JON BOSTIC has 19 tackles (9.5 per game) in his past 2 vs. NFC.
Bucs notes: QB RYAN FITZPATRICK passed for 402 yards with 4 TDs vs. 1 INT for 144.4 rating last week. Is 1 of 3 in NFL history with 4+ TD passes in each of team's 1st 2 games of season. Joined HOFer DAN MARINO (1984) & BILLY VOLEK (2004) as only players with 400+ pass yards & 4+ TD passes in consec. games in league annals. Has 517 pass yards (258.5 per game) with 3 TDs & 1 INT for 96 rating in his past 2 vs. Pit. * RB PEYTON BARBER has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4 at home. * WR MIKE EVANS had 65 rec. yards & TD in last meeting. Has 12 catches for 180 yards (90 per game) & TD in his past 2 vs. AFC. Aims for 3rd in row with 7+ catches & TD. WR DE SEAN JACKSON has 275 rec. yards (137.5 per game) & 3 TDs in past 2. Has 23 career TDs of 60+ yards, tied with HOFer JERRY RICE for most all-time. Had 6 receptions for 102 yards in his last game vs. Pit. (9/12/16 with Was.). WR CHRIS GODWIN aims for 4th in row with TD. * DT GERALD MC COY had sack in last meeting. Has 5 sacks in his past 5 vs. AFC. Aims for 3rd in row at home vs. AFC with sack. LB LAVONTE DAVID has 36 tackles, FF & 3 FRs in his past 4 at home. Had 12 tackles & FF in last meeting. Since 2014, leads NFL with 15 FFs. LB KWON ALEXANDER had 7 tackles, sack & FF last week. Has 30 tackles, 2 sacks, FF & 4 PD in past 4 at home vs. AFC. In past 4 at home, has 43 tackles (10.8 per game). DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL had sack in Week 2, his 1st sack with TB. -- NFL Communications