The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the NFL's better teams against the run this season, but Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren presents a challenge that goes beyond rushing yards.
Warren is coming off a dominant performance in Pittsburgh's 34-22 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, finishing with 188 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. According to NFL.com, he rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and added six receptions for 87 yards and another score.
What makes Warren particularly dangerous is his ability to create explosive plays. Against Indianapolis, he broke free for a 50-yard rushing touchdown and turned a short reception from Aaron Rodgers into an 80-yard score. Those two plays accounted for 130 of
his 188 scrimmage yards.
Tampa Bay enters the matchup allowing just 72.8 rushing yards per game and 3.28 yards per carry, ranking among the league's best in both categories. The Buccaneers also held Dallas to 50 rushing yards in their 24-16 victory last Sunday.
However, Warren's ability to contribute in the passing game creates another concern. Over five games, he has accumulated 410 rushing yards and 230 receiving yards, making him a weapon capable of producing without relying solely on rushing attempts.
For Todd Bowles' defense, the biggest challenge will be limiting Warren's opportunities in open space. Tampa Bay has demonstrated that it can contain opposing rushing attacks, but Warren's performance against Indianapolis showed how quickly a missed tackle or short completion can turn into a touchdown.
If the Buccaneers hope to earn their second consecutive victory, preventing Warren from generating those explosive plays will be an important part of slowing Pittsburgh's offense.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Steelers' Jaylen Warren presents major threat to Buccaneers
