After getting back on track in Week 4 with a resounding 33-16 win over the Eagles, the 3-1 Bucs will be looking to create some early separation in the NFC South race when they face the 2-2 Falcons on Thursday Night Football in Atlanta.

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While this is Tampa Bay’s NFC South opener, Atlanta is coming off its own NFC South opener. The Falcons beat the Saints, 26-24, in Week 4 on a late 58-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo, and they’ll be looking to defend their home turf in primetime as Todd Bowles leads his team into battle looking for a win inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second straight year. It should be a fun start to the NFL’s Week 5 slate, and it’s a big opportunity for the Bucs to build some more momentum and get to 4-1 before having a chance to get a bit healthier with a long break before their Week 6 game in New Orleans.

Of course, with this being a Thursday night game, both teams are on shorter rest. Tampa Bay will be without some key starters once again, and Atlanta will get right tackle Kaleb McGary back while simultaneously missing linebacker Troy Andersen, who had a pick-six in last week’s win.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

As usual, there are other storylines to follow in this Week 5 contest outside of the NFC South implications, and that’s the reason we’re here right now. As we do every week here on PewterReport.com, it’s now time to take a look at what else is on the line during this week’s game. Of course, we’re talking about some of the records and milestones that some Bucs are moving toward.

Last week, Mike Evans became the Bucs’ all-time leading scorer while Lavonte David notched his 1,500th tackle and joined Derrick Brooks as the only players in franchise history to reach that mark. David also passed Chidi Ahanotu for seventh-most sacks in team history. Chris Godwin also made some history, becoming just the second Buc — joining Evans — to cross over 7,000 career receiving yards.

Here’s where things stand heading into Week 5:

Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield has eight passing touchdowns through four games this season. With two more against the Falcons, he would pass Jameis Winston (9 in 2016) for the fifth-most by a Buccaneer through five games of a season. Four passing touchdowns would move him ahead of Winston (11 in 2019) for fourth-most by a Buc through five games, while five passing scores would put him ahead of Tom Brady (12 in 2020) and Brad Johnson (12 in 2003) for second-most through the first five games of a campaign.

Last week, Mayfield officially passed Craig Erickson (34) for ninth-most passing touchdowns in Bucs history. He now has 36, meaning he is 26 away from passing Steve DeBerg (61) for eighth-most.

With 125 passing yards against Atlanta, Mayfield will move ahead of Jeff Garcia (5,152) for 10th-most in franchise history.

Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Evans is set to play his 159th game for the Bucs, passing Mike Alstott (158) for ninth-most in Bucs history. He’ll also be one game away from tying Tony Mayberry (160) for eighth-most.

With 11 receiving yards, Evans will pass Michael Irvin (11,904) for 30th-most in NFL history, while 168 yards would move him ahead of Derrick Mason (12,061) for 29th-most. He’s only 190 yards away from passing Hines Ward (12,083) for 28th-most as well.

If Evans gets to 74 receiving yards on Thursday night, he’ll cross 1,481 in his career against the Falcons. That would give him the most receiving yards of any player against one team, though he’d be breaking his own mark considering his 1,480 receiving yards against the Panthers is currently the most anyone has against a single team.

Evans is also one receiving touchdown away from tying Terrell Owens (12) for the second-most by any player against Atlanta. Jerry Rice currently holds the record for the most at 25.

Also on the touchdown front, Evans is two receiving touchdowns away from tying Don Hutson (99) for 11th-most in league history. And with two touchdowns of any kind, Evans will become the 26th player in NFL history to reach 100 total touchdowns in a career. That would also tie him with Frank Gore, Franco Harris and Curtis Martin (100) for 23rd-most in NFL history.

And finally, Evans is 106 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns away from crossing the 12,000-receiving yard and 100-receiving touchdown marks. He would become just the 10th player in NFL history to do so, joining Tim Brown, Chris Carter, Larry Fitzgerald, Tony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison Sr., Steve Largent, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice. That’s eight Pro Football Hall of Famers and one future Pro Football Hall of Famer (Fitzgerald).

Chris Godwin

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With a big 140-yard night against the Falcons, Chris Godwin would pass Bruce Hill (461 in 1988) for the fifth-most by a Buc through five games of a season. An even bigger 163-yard night would move him ahead of Mike Evans (484 in 2018) for fourth-most through five games of a season.

With five catches, Godwin can tie Mike Evans (32 in 2016) and pass James Wilder (31 in 1985) for the fourth-most through five games in franchise history, while six catches would see him tie himself (33 in 2019) and Evans (33 in 2018) while passing Evans (32 in 2016) for second-most through five games of a Tampa Bay season.

Will Gholston

Thursday will be Will Gholston’s 174th game with the Bucs, leaving him 10 away from passing Paul Gruber (183) for fifth-most in franchise history.

Lavonte David

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lavonte David made some history last week with his 1,500th tackle, as well as his two sacks that gave him 35.5 in his career (sixth-most in franchise history). He also notched his 30th career forced fumble, joining Khalil Mack as the only active players with 30+ in their careers. David now needs four more sacks to pass David Logan (39.0 for sixth-most in Bucs history.

David is also nine passes defensed away from passing Carlton Davis III (73) for fourth-most in team history.

Thursday night will be David’s 186th game with Tampa Bay, leaving him five away from passing Dave Moore (190) for third-most in franchise history.

Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean needs seven more passes defensed to pass Aqib Talib (54) for seventh-most in team history.

Chase McLaughlin

With two more 50+ yard field goals, Chase McLaughlin will tie Martin Gramatica for second-most in Buccaneer history.