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By JORDAN GARRETSON

STATS Writer

 

(AP) -- The touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers finally started to pile up in an impressive victory after a drought that spanned two games.

 

They may find themselves on the winning end of another lopsided score Sunday when they host the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who face numerous questions after one of their worst defeats ever.

 

The Steelers (2-1) rank second in the AFC with 419.3 total yards per game after recording 454 in last Sunday's 37-19 road win over previously unbeaten Carolina. Ben Roethlisberger's seven-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown with 11:02 remaining in the third quarter was their first TD since the second quarter of a Week 1 win over Cleveland.

 

Pittsburgh found the end zone three more times over the final 26 minutes with LeGarrette Blount's fourth-quarter score punctuating an impressive rushing performance.

 

Le'Veon Bell ran for a career-best 147 yards and now leads the league with 461 from scrimmage. Blount rushed for 118, marking the first time two Steelers have run for 100 in the same game since Walter Abercrombie and Earnest Jackson in 1986.

 

"That's awesome," said Roethlisberger, who was 22 of 30 for 196 yards and two TDs. "I'm sure that Steeler fans back home are going crazy because we ran the ball for 100 and had two guys do it. That's just awesome. I think it shows what we can do if we put our minds to it."

 

Roethlisberger, 16-2 at home against NFC teams, continues to display excellent chemistry with Brown, who is tied for fifth in the league with 22 catches and 296 yards. He ranks second in those categories since the start of last season (110 for 1,499).

 

Pittsburgh is nursing a wounded defense, however, after losing linebackers Jarvis Jones and Ryan Shazier. Jones will miss at least eight weeks after being placed on the injured reserve/return list following surgery for a broken wrist. Shazier is expected to be back sooner, though he'll miss at least Sunday's game with a sprained right knee.

 

Cornerback Ike Taylor was also lost indefinitely after breaking his right forearm.

 

The Steelers signed veteran linebacker James Harrison on Tuesday to improve their depth, though it's not clear if he'll be ready to play. Harrison, who recorded 456 tackles with the Steelers from 2002-12 before being released, had two sacks for Cincinnati last year.

 

One positive in light of the injuries was the performance of linebackers Sean Spence and Arthur Moats, who both played well in relief and are expected to get their first starts of the season Sunday.

 

"As a competitor, you want to go in there when the game is heated like that and it's still a meaningful game," said Moats, who registered his first sack since 2011.

 

The Buccaneers (0-3) are in a state of disarray after last week's 54-16 loss at Atlanta, which tied for the third-worst margin of defeat in franchise history. They were outgained 488-217 and converted only 10 first downs compared to the Falcons' 26. It was their first five-turnover performance since 2012.

 

"When you get beat that bad, you need to make changes," coach Lovie Smith said. "Maybe that's personnel, maybe it's not. You're looking at all areas when you feel like you need to go another direction."

 

Smith was evasive when asked who will start at quarterback after Mike Glennon came in for Josh McCown, who suffered a sprained thumb on his throwing hand. Smith didn't discuss the severity of the injury, merely saying McCown is "getting better."

 

The Buccaneers were 4-9 with Glennon as the starter last year and the rookie threw for 19 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

 

Tampa Bay is also suffering from instability within its coaching staff, announcing Tuesday that offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford is taking an indefinite leave. He underwent an undisclosed medical procedure Aug. 25 and has worked part-time since. Smith said there's no timetable for his return and the staff will continue to fill in collectively in his absence.

 

Defensive lineman Gerald McCoy and running back Doug Martin were also among the injured players sidelined versus Atlanta, though both could return Sunday.

 

Pittsburgh owns an 8-1 series edge and won the last meeting 38-13 in Tampa on Sept. 26, 2010.

 

Source: Hosted.Stats.com

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woah, picking a team that fumbled it's own fumble recoveries last week?

 

:Steelers: 30

:Bucs: 10

 

Come on Bobby Rainey. Show the world you deserve the starting job over Doug Martin.

Edited by BC

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Even when we're an okay team the Steelers always kick our ass. We haven't won against them since 1998.

 

:Steelers: 38

:Bucs: 17

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Bucs declared QB Josh McCown, WR Robert Herron, RB Mike James, DE Larry English, LB Mason Foster, OT Kevin Pamphile and OG Kadeem Edwards inactive for Week 4 against the Steelers.

Mike Glennon is making his first start of 2014 under center. McCown is reportedly mulling surgery, which would cost him "at least" six weeks. He's shaping up as droppable in two-QB leagues.

 

 

 

Steelers declared WR Martavis Bryant, OG Ramon Foster, CB Ike Taylor, LB Ryan Shazier, QB Landry Jones, NT Daniel McCullers and OL Wesley Johnson inactive for Week 4 against the Bucs.

The No. 118 pick of May's draft, Bryant is having trouble getting on the field this season. He's well off the radar in re-draft leagues.

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I have a feeling this game will be closer than I would like and closer than most people think.

 

:Steelers: 27

 

:Bucs: 17

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Well I didn't think we would lose, but yea. lolSteelers.

 

LeBeau can retire and take Polamalu with him. :yep:

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Wow. The Steelers punter had a terrible punt with 1 minute on the clock. Set the Bucs up on their defense. Terrible closing job by Pittsburgh.

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That last set of play calls for the Steelers (before the Bucs score the go-ahead TD) was horrendous... The punt certainly didn't help, neither did their defense allowing Louis Murphy to torch them. Although, to be honest.. I didn't even know he was a street free agent and obviously hindsight is 20/20, but I would have called that a solid pickup for he Bucs even before his game today. Not saying Murphy is a supreme talent or anything, but he belongs ona team.

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Murphy was cut because he was hurt in preseason, now that he is healthy it makes sense the Bucs bring him back.

Anywho, woohoo go Bucs! Glad to see we didn't go THAT deep into the season with a goose egg in the win column. Beating the Steelers is sweet too because that's a team that's always owned our asses.

  • Upvote 1

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Great win today. The offense looked a lot better with a real QB playing. Glennon isn't perfect but he will make at the very least a great back up Qb for us. I really wish the defense would stop making 3rd and very long so easy to convert and start covering TEs..

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