Rodgers throws 2 late TD passes as Steelers storm back to beat Buccaneers 26-19 in OT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The way Aaron Rodgers sees it, the Pittsburgh Steelers took a significant step with their first road win of the season.

“These are the most important moments for us as a team to grow. This is a trajectory win,” the 42-year-old, four-time NFL MVP said Sunday after throwing for 253 yards and two touchdowns to rally the Steelers from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to a 26-19 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With his two TD passes, Rodgers tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for third on the NFL’s career list with 539. Only Tom Brady (649) and Drew Brees (571) have more.

Pittsburgh (4-2) began the day undefeated at home, but 0-2 on the road.

“You can go to 3-3 and then you've got a Paris trip ... and that's just not what you want to do, obviously,” Rodgers added. “To be 4-2, to win our first road game ... to beat a team we should've beat ... there's no two ways about it, you've got to beat teams like that if you want to get where we want to get.”

Rodgers shrugged off a slow start to lead four fourth-quarter scoring drives, then finished off a 12-play, 70-yard march with a 7-yard TD throw to Germie Bernard to give the Steelers the lead for good with 3:15 remaining in OT.

Rookie Jalon Daniels drove the Bucs (1-5) to midfield on the ensuing possession, but Tampa Bay could only get as close as the Steelers 48 before Jalen Ramsey sacked the undrafted free agent on fourth down for an 11-yard loss to end the game.

Rodgers finished 33 of 49 passing. He was sacked five times in the first three quarters and also tossed a first-quarter interception that led to the first of four field goals by Tampa Bay's Chase McLaughlin.

Chris Boswell also kicked four field goals for Pittsburgh, including a 20-yarder set up by former Buccaneer Jamel Dean's interception to give the Steelers a short-lived 19-16 lead with 1:21 left in regulation.

Daniels, who tossed a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions to help Pittsburgh get back in the game, promptly led the Bucs into field goal range with completions of 22 and 13 yards to fellow rookie Ted Hurst. McLaughlin, 14 of 14 this season, calmly booted a 53-yarder to force the extra period.

Daniels, making his third career start filling in for the injured Baker Mayfield, completed 22 of 43 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown. Daylen Everette's interception led to a field goal that enabled Pittsburgh to erase a 16-13 deficit, and Dean's pick and 40-yard return to the Bucs 2 set up another field goal.

“We feel like we gave that one to them. We've got to be able to execute better in the second half and make adjustments we need to make,” said Bucs receiver Emeka Egbuka, who had a 2-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. The Bucs were up 13-3 at halftime and took a 16-3 lead into the fourth quarter.

All five of Tampa Bay's losses have been by seven points or less.

“We've got to be able to finish games,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.

Playing without injured receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson, Rodgers struggled to consistently move the ball for three quarters against a Bucs defense that had five sacks and has played better the past two games after an 0-4 start.

Rodgers was coming off a stretch of three consecutive games with three TD passes. That streak not only was halted, but the Steelers didn't come anywhere close to getting the ball into the end zone until his 5-yard TD throw to Darnell Washington early in the fourth quarter.

DK Metcalf was a huge factor in the comeback, finishing with 11 catches for 93 yards overall. He was targeted 15 times a week after a season-low four during a home win over Indianapolis.

“Once we got DK involved, the offense shifted,” Rodgers said. “Maybe we can get that going a little earlier next time.”

Steelers coach Mike McCarthy spent all of halftime in the injury tent while being evaluated for a sore ankle that was the result of being stepped on along Pittsburgh's sideline.

He was limping across the field toward the visiting locker room before turning back and continuing to the injury tent behind the Steelers' bench. McCarthy returned to the sideline for the start of the third quarter and finished the game.

“I got my foot stepped on," McCarthy said. “We've got a really good medical staff, so I just communicated from the tent to the locker room.”

Pittsburgh has won 11 of 13 meetings between the teams all-time. Rodgers, however, is just 4-4 against the Bucs, including the playoffs.

Steelers: CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) limped off the field late in the first half and didn't return.

Buccaneers: Rookie LB Josiah Trotter (knee) played after being added to the injury report late in the week.

Steelers: Travel to Paris to face the New Orleans Saints in the first NFL regular-season game in France.

Buccaneers: Play at NFC South-rival Carolina next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) stretches to score a touchdown as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) attempts to tackle during overtime at an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) aims a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) in overtime during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5), left, celebrates after sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) in overtime during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) aims a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday directed the federal government to bolster federal research into women's health through all stages of their lives, a move pushed by his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The Republican president signed an executive order creating a Women’s Health Division at the National Institutes of Health and a separate White House Women's Health Task Force. The panel was set to hold its first meeting on Monday.

“Beginning today we will change the reality of women’s health,” Melania Trump said. “Previous generations fought for women’s rights. Our generation will fight to discover the cures that will ensure a woman can live her life in health and to the fullest.”

The president spoke after his wife and said the order will “promote new research and really go after the understudied diseases affecting women.” The order is also intended to promote diagnostic technology and improve treatment.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who recently completed treatment for breast cancer, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will lead the White House task force. Donald Trump said the panel will coordinate with various federal agencies and programs. The order does not include specific funding goals.

The initiative follows meetings the first lady had with the president, Kennedy and other federal health officials to help shape the order and the task force.

The president called it a "historic action” and praised her work.

“She’s accomplished so much,” he said before pivoting into unscripted commentary about White House renovations, including the patio stone now covering what used to be the Rose Garden lawn.

Shifting back to women's health, the president expressed surprise that some of the order's requirements had not already been imposed.

“Who the hell wouldn't have a women's health division?” he said, after recalling that he'd asked Melania Trump, “Are you sure they don't have that?”

The NIH has an Office of Research on Women’s Health, established in 1990 to advance understanding of the biological and social factors that influence women's health and disease, according to its website.

A goal of the new Women's Health Division is to improve the government's ability to coordinate research, according to a fact sheet distributed by the White House.

The executive order signed Monday calls for more research into key areas of women's health, including maternal health, mental health, endometriosis, infertility, fibroids and menopause. It also mentions other health concerns, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease, osteoporosis and stroke.

The White House announcement comes about two weeks before Nov. 3 elections and as Donald Trump’s job approval ratings have declined.

About one-third of women now approve of how Trump is handling the presidency, according to recent AP-NORC polling. About two-thirds of women disapproved of how Trump was handing healthcare issues in a July AP-NORC poll.

An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier in October found women more likely than men to say healthcare is “one of the most important issues” in the upcoming election.

It was unclear whether Trump's order conflicts with his earlier executive actions curtailing federal programs and policies with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

The administration’s broad cuts to scientific research have included studies focusing on women as it continues to eliminate grants with a “DEI” or diversity focus. Last year, the administration announced that the long-running Women’s Health Initiative, a study of preventive health strategies, would be closed early before abruptly reversing that decision amid protest.

In 2023, the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden signed an executive order as he announced a White House initiative to improve how the federal government approaches and funds research into the health of women, who make up more than half the U.S. population. The initiative was led by first lady Jill Biden.

Before leaving the White House, the Bidens highlighted Jill Biden’s effort and said the research initiative had attracted nearly $1 billion in federal funding, including from the Defense Department and NIH.

Trump's executive order rescinded the Biden effort.

The Trump White House said the steps announced Monday go beyond what was accomplished under Biden, citing the planned use of artificial intelligence, which Trump calls “super intelligence,” and creating a government-wide task force rather than having the first lady lead the initiative.

The initiative adds a new dimension to Melania Trump’s policy portfolio as first lady.

In Donald Trump's second term, Melania Trump has focused on improving foster care systems, expanding technology and artificial-intelligence access in education, and reuniting children separated from their families by Russia's war against Ukraine.

In Trump's first presidency, the first lady's signature initiative, Be Best, focused on child well-being, safe social media use and reducing drug abuse.

Barrow reported from Atlanta. AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard and Associated Press writers Linley Sanders and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

First lady Melania Trump speaks during an event about women's health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump, with first lady Melania Trump, attends an event about women's health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump, with first lady Melania Trump, holds a signed executive order, during an event about women's health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

President Donald Trump, seated right with first lady Melania Trump, signs an executive order during an event about women's health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order alongside first lady Melania Trump at an event about women's health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)