After closing out 2024 with a 48-14 win over the Panthers last Sunday, the 9-7 Bucs will begin 2025 on the right foot when they host the 5-11 Saints this Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. I’m thinking of welcoming you.
Bucks vs. Saints: Pewter Gameday Live Show (Sunday 1:00 PM ET)
The Pewter Gameday live show returns Sunday afternoon. #Bucks in the face of #Saints. A great way to receive news and analysis during the match.
Please watch and join in the fun!
— Pewter Report 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) January 2, 2025
A win over the Saints in the final game of the regular season would give the Bucs a 10-7 record, a fifth consecutive playoff appearance, and a fourth consecutive NFC South title. And if the Rams lose to the Seahawks on Sunday, the Bucs will also clinch the No. 3 seed in the NFC. In either case, a win against New Orleans would mean another game at Raymond James Stadium during Super Wild Card Weekend.
There is very at risk A win could clinch the playoffs for the Bucs, and a loss could have serious consequences for head coach Todd Bowles. but take our destiny back into our own handsthe scenario is simple. If you win, you win.
As always, there’s more to the story in this final regular season game at Ray J, and that’s why we’re here now. As we do every week here at PewterReport.com, this week we take a look at what else is coming up during this week’s games. Of course, we’re talking about records and milestones that some Bucks are aiming for.
last week, Bucky Irving became the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, Mike Evans achieved his 11th consecutive year with 65 or more catches, and Baker Mayfield surpassed Tom Brady’s 1,000-yard rusher. He tied the record for most passing touchdowns in a season with three or more games.
Here’s how things stand heading into week 18.
Bucks team record
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles – Photo courtesy of USA Today
A win would seal the Bucks’ seventh NFC South title and fourth straight. They will tie with the Saints for the most NFC South titles and tie New Orleans for the longest winning streak in NFC South history.
With a win, the Bucks will also qualify for the playoffs for the fifth straight year, the longest in team history. Also, if they make the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year, they would maintain the NFC’s best record and become one of only three teams to reach the postseason in each of the last five seasons, joining the Chiefs and Bills.
Including the regular season and playoffs, this will be the 800th game in Buccaneer history.
One sack would tie the 2024 Bucks with the 2004 and 2022 Bucks (45.0 sacks) for the sixth-most in a single season in team history. 3.0 sacks would tie him for fourth behind the 2019 and 2021 Bucks (47.0), and 4.0 sacks would rank him second behind the 2020 and 2023 Bucks (48.0).
Tampa Bay needs 18 points to pass the 2020 team (492) for the second-most points in a single season in franchise history. If they get 37 points, they will break the franchise record (511 points) set by the 2021 team.
The Bucs’ 251 total yards are the second-most in a single season in team history, passing the 2018 Bucs (6,648 yards). He would need 504 total yards to break the single-season franchise record (6,901 yards), which also belongs to the 2021 team (6,901 yards).
Tampa Bay gained 81 rushing yards, surpassing the 1979 team (2,437) for the most in franchise history.
The three total touchdowns make this year’s team the second-most touchdowns in team history, tied with the 2020 team (59). The seven total touchdowns would tie the team’s single-season franchise record (63) in 2021.
baker mayfield
Bucks QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Mayfield needs three passing touchdowns to set a franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a season.
Mayfield’s two passing touchdowns make him the second most in a single season in team history, passing Tom Brady (40 in 2020). He would need four passing touchdowns and five to tie Brady (43 in 2021) for the single-season franchise record.
Mayfield’s four passing touchdowns also rank him sixth in franchise history, surpassing Trent Dilfer (70).
Mayfield needs three total touchdowns to tie Brady (45 in 2021) and four passing touchdowns to set the single-season team record. .
Mayfield is now 355 passing yards away from surpassing Brady (4,633 passing yards in 2020) for the fourth-most in a single season in team history. If he gains 416 yards, he will pass Brady (4,694 yards in 2022) for third place.
Mayfield’s 300-yard passing day ties him with Brady (seven in 2020) for the third-most 300-yard passing games in a single season in team history.
Mayfield ties Doug Williams (four in 1980, four in 1981) and Josh Freeman (four in 2011) for fourth most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a Buccaneer quarterback. Needs one more rushing touchdown.
And with 221 passing yards and one passing touchdown, Mayfield could join an elite class of quarterbacks who have thrown for 4,500 yards or more and 40 or more touchdowns in a season. What about the other people in that class? Tom Brady (3), Drew Brees (2), Peyton Manning (2), Dan Marino (2), Matthew Stafford (2), Patrick Mahomes (2), Joe Burrow, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers.
mike evans
Bucks WR Mike Evans – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Evans is 80 meters away. He achieved 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. If he gets there, he would tie Jerry Rice for the longest streak in NFL history and also break a tie with Randy Moss (10) for the second-most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in league history (10). It will be. Rice, 14, holds the NFL record.
Evans is 127 yards away from passing Art Monk (12,721) for 23rd most yards in NFL history.
With one more reception, Evans will pass Larry Centers (827) for 35th place in league history.
Evans is one game away from tying the fourth-most touchdowns in franchise history (12 in 2014 and 2016). He needs two touchdown receptions (13 in 2020 and 2023) to tie him for second all-time, but three would tie his single-season franchise record (14 in 2021). You will have to line up.
Evans’ three total touchdowns ranks him 19th in league history, tied with Barry Sanders (109) and Derrick Henry (109, active).
Sunday was Evans’ 168th game, leaving him 16 games removed from passing Paul Gruber (183) for sixth place in team history.
jalen mcmillan
McMillan needs one more receiving touchdown to tie Michael Clayton (seven in 2004) for third-most by a Bucs rookie, followed by Mike Evans (seven in 2014). (12 times in 2010) and Mike Williams (11 times in 2010).
McMillan’s receiving touchdown against the Saints gives him the second-longest streak of receiving touchdowns this season, behind Mark Andrews (five). It also marks the first consecutive streak by a rookie since 2004, tying him with Lee Evans (5 games in 2004) and Chris Sanders (5 games in 1995) as the second-longest streak by a rookie in NFL history. It is a consecutive record record. Second only to Randy Moss (7 games). (1998).
Cade Otton
Bucks TE Cade Otton – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Otton is four away from passing Jackie Harris (62 in 1995) for the fourth-most single-season receptions in team history. Otton could move past Kellen Winslow (66 in 2010) for third place with eight receptions.
With four receiving yards, Otton ranks eighth among tight ends in franchise history, passing Rob Gronkowski (1,425).
Ratchard White
White needs one more touchdown to tie Leonard Fournette and Reggie Cobb (22) for seventh-most touchdowns from scrimmage by a running back in franchise history.
With one touchdown, White would set a new career high for touchdowns from scrimmage in a season and secure his first 10-touchdown season.
bucky irving
Irving is one game away from passing Erik Lett and Lars Tate (seven) for the second-most rushing touchdowns as a Bucs rookie. After that, he was only trailing Doug Martin (11th in 2012).
With 11 more scrimmage yards, Irving would pass Warrick Dunn (1,440 yards in 1997) as the second-best rookie in Bucs history. After that, he trailed only Doug Martin (1,926th in 2012).
Irving had 146 rushing yards, second-most by a Buccaneer rookie, passing Cadillac Williams (1,178 in 2005). He would also finish with the seventh-most single-season rushing yards in team history.
Will Gholston
Gholston will play his 186th game with the Bucks, leaving him five games removed from passing Dave Moore (190 games) for fourth place in franchise history.
vita vea
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bears need 4.0 more sacks to pass Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0 sacks) for ninth place in team history. He is half a sack away from matching his single-season career high (6.5).
One quarterback hit would match Bear’s single-season career high (13 hits). He also needs just four tackles to match his career-high (43) and just two solo tackles to match his career-best (28).
Vere, second time pro bowlerthey hope to finish the regular season on a high note.
Shaq Barrett
Barrett, who is already fourth in franchise history with 45.0 points, is looking to close the gap on third-place Gerald McCoy (54.5 points).
labonte david
Bucs ILB Labonte David – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
David will play in his 198th game, the third-most in franchise history. He trails only Derrick Brooks (224) and Ronde Barber (241).
David matched his career high (7.0 sacks in 2013) with 1.5 sacks. He is also half a sack away from passing David Logan (39.0 points) for sixth place in team history.
David needs to defend five more passes to pass Carlton Davis III (73) for fourth place in team history.
Jamel Dean
Dean currently defends just three more passes from Aqib Talib (54), which is seventh most in Bucks history.
antwone winfield jr.
If Winfield is able to return, he still has some history to pursue. He needs one more sack to tie for 11th place among defensive backs since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, along with Adam Archuleta, Bill Bates and Roman Harper (18.0). He needs three more sacks to tie for 10th place with Charles Woodson (20.0).
