Bucs Offensive Line Posting Lowest Pressure Rate in the NFL

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking up a much-needed win on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, the team is quickly right back in the picture in the middling NFC South.

One very promising sign from the team's first victory was the effectiveness of the run game, with starting tailback Bucky Irving posting his best performance since his rookie year.

The offensive line deserves a lot of credit for bouncing back after some shaky play to start the season, creating holes for Irving to run through and holding strong against opposing pass rush.

On Tuesday, Pro Football Focus (PFF) listed the top offensive line units for pressure rate in the NFL, with Tampa topping the list (18.4%).

While this may seem surprising, the Bucs' offensive line has kept Jalon Daniels upright for the past two games, allowing just four sacks over the two matchups.

Of course, starting quarterback Baker Mayfield took a beating in the early season, but a lot of that was also due to his improvising and play-extension.

Heading into a Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers and former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, Daniels and the Bucs' offense will be relying on the boys up front to hold up.

All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs anchors the effort, with his 83.9 pass protection metric ranking second in the NFL at his position, according to PFF.

Following the Bucs' Week 3 loss against the Minnesota Vikings, Wirfs addressed the team's winless start to the media, saying that the "calvary isn't coming," and it's on the players within the locker room to begin turning around this season.

Wirfs was one of the few bright spots in Tampa's ugly defeat, holding the league's top pressure generator through three weeks, Dallas Turner, to 0 pressures on 14 reps.

However, the rest of the offensive line struggled, surrendering six sacks and and 12 QB hits, with the final leading to Mayfield's aggravated injury.

As the season progresses, consistency up front will dictate this team's ability to get back in the playoff hunt and potentially build a winning streak for Mayfield to return to.

The offensive line projects to be healthy entering the matchup with the Steelers, which will be a big test for the unit.

The Bucs take on Pittsburgh at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday looking to advance to 2-4 and pick up their first home victory of the year.