Steel City Underground presents our 2022 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.

When Tom Brady travels to Pittsburgh, the result is usually the opposite of what Steelers Nation would prefer it to be.

In Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season, Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers traveled to Acrisure Stadium to face a Steelers team that was questioning its identity following a big loss to the Buffalo Bills and a switch to a rookie quarterback as their starter.

It also didn’t help that the Steelers secondary was completely ravaged by injuries. Bookies had the Steelers the Steelers were anywhere from an 8-point underdog to a 9.5-point one.

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Three cornerbacks (Cameron Sutton, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Levi Wallace) plus All-Pro starting safety (Minkah Fitzpatrick) were all ruled out before the game. Toss in an already missing T.J. Watt, and his pseudo fill-in, DeMarvin Leal, both sitting on Injured Reserve, and all you could say as a fan is “yikes”. Brady, and his plethora of weapons, should’ve had a field day with after-run replacements such as Josh Jackson, James Pierre, Quincy Wilson, Tre Norwood and Elijah Riley.

Most fans will forget those names, and with good reason. Jackson joined the team on September 5th (following training camp cuts) while Riley was signed to the practice squad following camp, and Wilson joined the same on September 21st.

Yet, they held the greatest quarterback of all-time to 243 yards, 1 touchdown and 6.1 yards-per-attempt.

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A maligned Steelers offense scored their first opening possession touchdown since Week 10 of 2021 (where Mason Rudolph did the same against the Detroit Lions.) Pittsburgh would also see their first wide receiver touchdown catch of the season… yes, in Week 6!

One fear that Steelers fans had expressed – Pickett getting hurt – unfortunately came true in the third quarter on a hard hit that fans across the stadium raised voices over.

Kenny Pickett is headed to the locker room after taking this hit.

Mitchell Trubisky is in the game at QB. https://t.co/c38HXG442e

— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) October 16, 2022

Mitchell Trubisky entered the game and surprised many fans who’d already written the game off as a loss on social media due to his appearance. Trubisky may have been unhappy, as illustrated in past interviews, that he was moved to QB2, but he swallowed any pride or bitterness he held and finished the game well, finding Chase Claypool for three major third-down conversions that ultimately led to a victory formation.

Trubisky completed 9-of-12 passes for 144 yards in a just one quarter and a few minutes more after he took over for Pickett. It’s not a stretch by any means to say that it was the best the veteran looked during the 2022 NFL regular season.

Special teams also stepped up big time, with the real spark coming from Steven Sims. The receiver looked confident and broke a big return that might have become six points had he not been dragged down just short of the wide open end zone he saw in front of him.

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Pittsburgh’s efforts on defense should be highlighted after they effectively limited Tom Brady from turning the game into a nightmare. The longest offensive play from the Bucs went for just 28 yards; the Steelers allowing just two plays of 20 or more yards in the entire game.

Devin Bush said NOT TODAY ✋ https://t.co/7klD3CXCO5

— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) October 16, 2022

Pittsburgh limited Tampa Bay’s run game to just 75 yards on 26 attempts (2.9 yards per carry average) and a late touchdown. The defense stuffed Brady on a key quarterback sneak and Devin Bush prevented a two-point conversion after a Leonard Fournette rushing touchdown late in the game to set up the 20-18 win, snapping a four-game losing streak in front of their home crowd and improving to 2-4 on the year.

Next up, a date in Miami with the Dolphins.