:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64987178/usa_today_13184100.0.jpg)
Pittsburgh started the second half on offense, but Rudolph and company failed to register a first down before Ian Berryman punted the ball away for the first time of the game. Tampa Bay followed suit and had to punt the ball back to Pittsburgh. On the first play to start the next possession, Rudolph hit Johnny Holton for a 59-yard catch and run to take the ball inside the 10-yard line. On second down, Rudolph hit rookie Zach Gentry in the back of the end zone for his second touchdown pass of the game. Zach Wright hit the extra point to make the score 20-10 with 9:25 left in the 3rd quarter.
Pittsburgh’s defense continued to improve as the game progressed, and when Pittsburgh got the football back again it was Bucky Hodges who took over at quarterback. However, Hodges’ luck wasn’t as good as the two previous quarterbacks and the football was punted back to the Buccaneers with 7:26 left in the third quarter.
The Buccaneers found their groove towards the end of the quarter and were able to drive down the field and eventually punched the ball in for their second touchdown of the game. The Dare Ogunbowale 10-yard run led to a 2-point conversion try which failed, making the score 20-16 with 3:21 left in the third quarter.
Hodges started to find his groove towards the end of the quarter, and moved the Steelers offense into the red-zone as the third quarter came to an end.