The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally found some offensive success in their 24-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, and running back Bucky Irving was at the center of it all. After rushing for a career-high 165 yards in week 4, Irving will look to build on that performance when Tampa Bay hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in week 5.
However, Pittsburgh is coming off an impressive defensive performance against Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor. The Steelers have also shown some vulnerabilities against explosive runs this season, making Sunday's matchup an interesting test for both sides.
Steelers run defense has been effective, but not unbeatable
According to NFL.com's 2026 defensive rushing statistics, Pittsburgh has allowed 517 rushing yards on 128 attempts through five games, averaging 103.4 yards per
game and 4.0 yards per carry. The Steelers have also surrendered four rushing touchdowns in four weeks. Those numbers suggest Pittsburgh has been effective at limiting opposing rushing attacks without completely shutting them down altogether.
The Steelers demonstrated that ability to smother the run in their 34-22 victory over Indianapolis, holding Taylor to 45 yards on 15 carries. According to NFL.com's official game log, Taylor averaged just 3.0 yards per attempt after entering the matchup with 353 rushing yards and six touchdowns through four games.
However, Pittsburgh has allowed six rushing plays of at least 20 yards this season, although none have gone for 40 or more. That could present an opportunity for Irving, who is coming off the longest run of his NFL career(72 yards).
Bucky Irving's numbers show why he could challenge Pittsburgh
Irving has rushed for 406 yards and two touchdowns on 77 carries this season, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt through the first four weeks of the 2026 season.
His production goes beyond simply finding open running lanes. According to Pro Football Focus, Irving has forced 19 missed tackles as a runner while averaging 4.0 yards after contact per attempt. These numbers help explain why Irving has remained productive despite Tampa Bay's offensive struggles during its 1-4 start.
Against Dallas, Irving carried the ball 21 times for 165 yards and a touchdown, and added two receptions for 10 yards and another score. His biggest play came on a 72-yard run to open the second half, setting up Emeka Egbuka's 14-yard rushing touchdown on the following play.
Although that run accounted for nearly 44% of his rushing total, Irving still gained 93 yards on his other 20 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. That production is key because Pittsburgh will be looking to prevent the explosive plays that helped Tampa Bay control the game against Dallas.
Buccaneers need to establish consistency on the ground
Tampa Bay finished with 241 rushing yards against Dallas, helping rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels operate within a more balanced offense. The Buccaneers also controlled possession for more than 39 minutes, limiting Dallas' opportunities while keeping pressure off their young quarterback.
The Steelers' performance against Taylor suggests they can disrupt that approach. However, their season-long numbers also indicate that running backs have found opportunities to generate meaningful gains.
For Tampa Bay, another 165-yard performance from Irving would certainly be welcome, but it isn't necessarily required to win the Week 5 matchup. Consistent production on early downs would help prevent Pittsburgh's defense from forcing the rookie Daniels into obvious passing situations.
The Buccaneers showed against Dallas what their offense can accomplish when Irving is involved. Sunday's matchup will provide a better indication of whether that success can continue against a defense that has already proven capable of containing one of the NFL's most productive running backs.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucky Irving faces tough test against Steelers run defense
