In just over a month, on Aug. 11, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in their first 2023 preseason game.
The showdown will take place at Raymond James Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST. After what will have been a lengthy seven-month hiatus, Columbus, Ohio native Antoine Winfield Jr. and company will finally be back in game action.
And this year, the Bucs’ preseason play especially bears watching because of the battle for the game’s most important position. With Tom Brady now retired, free agent pickup Baker Mayfield and 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask are duking it out for the starting quarterback job.
With football season just around the corner, now’s the time to gear up as a fan and dive into the excitement of Ohio sports betting promos as the Buccaneers and Steelers prepare for a thrilling showdown.
The Buckeye State launched legalized sports betting back in January, and it has emerged as a popular activity for sports fans across the state. Some of the best offers available from sportsbooks in Ohio include a first bet wager of up to $1,000 from BetMGM, $150 in bonus bets from DraftKings once you wager $5, a second chance bet of up to $100 from BetRivers and $150 in bonus bets from Tipico.
This Bucs-Steelers game will also be a rematch from last year’s Week 6 showdown at Acrisure Stadium. In that game, the underdog Steelers stymied Brady and the Tampa offense, and second half heroics from Mitch Trubisky (taking over for an injured Kenny Pickett) and receiver Chase Claypool powered Pittsburgh to a 20-18 victory.
Eight days after their meeting with Pittsburgh, the Bucs will meet Aaron Rodgers’ New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 19. Tampa will conclude preseason play with a home tilt against the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 26 before getting ready for their Week 1 season opener on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.
Winfield Jr. Gearing Up For A Big Fourth Year
The Buccaneers drafted the Minnesota product in the second round (45th overall) in 2020. That turned out to be one of the greatest day-two picks in franchise history, with Winfield Jr. emerging as one of the NFL’s top do-it-all safeties.
Winfield Jr., the son of three-time Pro Bowl defensive back Antoine Winfield, immediately turned heads with a stellar rookie year. He recorded six pass defenses, one interception, two forced fumbles and three sacks.
His efforts helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl 55 appearance, with Tampa Bay dominating Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs by a final score of 31-9.
Despite missing four games in 2021, Winfield Jr. earned his first career Pro Bowl nod after recording two interceptions, six pass defenses, a pair of forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two sacks. His Bucs locked up the franchise’s first NFC South division title in 14 years, but their Super Bowl defense ended with a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.
Winfield Jr. again missed four games in 2022, but his efforts were enough to help Tampa win a second straight NFC South division crown. He recorded a career-high four sacks, one interception and three pass defenses.
The Bucs’ roller-coaster of a year ended with a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Super Wild Card Weekend in what turned out to be Brady’s final game.
Winfield Jr. has shown more and more improvement each year, and 2020 marks the final season of his rookie contract. If he plays up to his usual standards, Winfield Jr. will set himself up for a lucrative payday next year.
Bucs Eyeing Third Straight Division Title
With questions at quarterback, the Buccaneers will need their defense to carry the way more than ever in 2023. That starts with a solid secondary led by Winfield Jr. and the dynamic cornerback tandem of Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean.
The silver lining for the Bucs is that they play in football’s worst division. An 8-9 record was good enough for Tampa to win the NFC South, after all.
Tampa has the best defense in the division as well as the top receiving duo in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Only time will tell if that will be enough for the Buccaneers to hold off the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.
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