Ryan Fitzpatrick of Tampa Bay fights himself and is almost back

Vance McDonald caught the ball on Pittsburgh's 35-yard line, looked at the field and saw Chris Conte, a defensive back, was the only thing between him and the end zone. The tight end tightened, grabbed Conté by the helmet and threw him to the side before sinking into the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown.

Monday's game in Tampa, Florida was only the result of Ryan Fitzpatrick's three interceptions of all the Steelers could do on offense, but McDonald's consignment of Conte was rather symbolic. The Buccaneers took the Steelers and Pittsburgh pushed them for a 30-27 win, their first of the season.

The match marked the return to form for the Steelers, who held on after nearly taking a 20-point lead at half-time. And it was a slowdown – but probably not an end – for the Fitzpatrick experience in Tampa.

Fitzpatrick, a companion playing for his seventh team in 14 seasons, had entered the match in the middle of a magical ride. In two weeks, he had 819 yards and eight touchdowns, bringing the Buccaneers to an unexpected 2-0 record in the first two games of Jameis Winston's three-game suspension for violating N.F.L.'s personal driving policy.

Against Pittsburgh, who had allowed Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes to win 326 yards and six touchdowns in Week 2, Fitzpatrick could have won three consecutive wins. He got closer, rallying Tampa Bay less than three points, but eventually he dug a hole too deep with three interceptions in the first period, one of which returned for a touchdown. The game showed everything there is to the Fitzpatrick experience, with risky games succeeding and failing with so much talent.

Even with the turnovers, Fitzpatrick completed 30 of 50 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first quarterback of N.F.L. to pass for 400 yards or more in three consecutive games.

For the Steelers, there is cause to worry about the defense, where the high school was burned for a second week in a row, but the team will probably focus on Ben Roethlisberger's vintage performance.

He accumulated 353 yards and three touchdowns while being intercepted once. He favored McDonald (four catches for 112 yards) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (nine for 116) against Antonio Brown (six for 50). The biggest problem for Pittsburgh, beyond the team's defense, was the inconsistency in the game, with James Conner continuing to run in the place of Leveon Bell, at the head of a group which only generated 78 rushing yards. the one who arrives in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers victory will silence calls for change within the coach. But the biggest question is whether an attempt to return strong after a dismal start will be enough for Fitzpatrick to hold Winston good now that the team's favorite starting quarter is no longer suspended.