The Steelers hold a 7-1 edge in their all-time series with the Buccaneers, including three straight victories. Pittsburgh was a 20-3 home winner when the clubs last met, in 2006, and took a 17-7 decision when the teams last did battle in Tampa in 2002. The Steelers also won Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, defeating the Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2009. Tampa Bay’s only win over the Steelers came in 1998, a 16-3 home triumph.
The Steelers’ Mike Tomlin and Buccaneers’ Raheem Morris will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart’s respective teams, for the first time as head coaches. Tomlin was a Bucs assistant from 2001 through 2005, with the final four of those seasons spent working on the same defensive staff as Morris.