One of the biggest games of the NFL’s Week 5 slate comes Sunday afternoon at Seattle’s Lumen Field, with the 3-1 Bucs in town to take on the 3-1 Seahawks in a battle of 1976 expansion teams. With both teams celebrating their 50th seasons in 2025, this matchup will feature two of the best and most iconic throwback uniforms in the game.

Beyond the storyline of both teams coming into the league at the same time and the fact that uniform-wise, this is going to be one of the best matchups the NFL has ever seen, this is a massive game for both teams as they jockey for position in the NFC. Tampa Bay comes in at 3-1 and atop the NFC South, while Seattle has a chance to be tied with the 49ers for first place in the NFC West with a win. These are both playoff-caliber teams getting a chance to earn what could be a key win early in the season.

For the Bucs especially, this game is a big one in terms of their goal of avoiding the type of midseason slump that plagued them in both 2023 and 2024. This is a team that is 3-10 in the month of October under head coach Todd Bowles, with a 2-6 mark in the month over the last two seasons. Tampa Bay started this season with another 3-1 September, but with Seattle, San Francisco and Detroit on the schedule in the coming weeks, it’s extremely important to weather the threat of an October storm.

Getting a win over the Seahawks would set the Bucs up well, as a split of their next two games would then have them at 5-2 ahead of a game against the winless Saints, which leads right into their Week 9 bye.

Now, let’s dive into what might decide this matchup, as well as some key players to watch in this battle of 3-1 teams in Seattle:

What Might Decide This Bucs-Seahawks Matchup?

Todd Bowles, Lavonte David, Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs and a host of others essentially told everyone following last Sunday’s loss to the Eagles what the key to this Week 5 game against the Seahawks would be getting off to a faster start. Tampa Bay has stumbled out of the gates in each of the first four games this season, and while the team overcame its slow starts to beat the Falcons, Texans and Jets, they couldn’t do so against the Eagles, the best team they’ve played in the first four weeks.

So, when the Bucs take the field in Seattle to face a strong Seahawks team in a hostile environment, they know they can’t start slow and expect to escape with a 4-1 record. Mayfield and the offense can’t come out and go three-and-out on their first possession. The Buccaneer defense can’t let the Seahawks go right down the field on them and score on their opening drive. Those are seemingly simple enough objectives, but achieving them won’t come easy.

Tampa Bay has been outscored 34-13 in the first quarter this season, and both sides of the ball are responsible. The offense has only one opening-drive touchdown in four games after scoring eight opening-drive touchdowns last season. The Bucs have ended only one of their other three opening drives this season with points, kicking a field goal on the first possession against the Jets in Week 3. In 2024, they kicked four opening-drive field goals to go with their eight opening-drive touchdowns.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So, Mayfield and the offense have to start faster. That’ll be a tall task against a very good Seahawks defense, though. That’s why it would help if the Bucs defense figured out how to get an opening-drive stop. Bowles’ side of the ball has allowed three first-drive touchdowns and a first-drive field goal in four games this season. That can’t continue in Seattle.

More than just the need to start faster, the Bucs also need to find more consistency on offense. As Pewter Report’s Adam Slivon outlined in this week’s PR Roundtable, the passing game needs to be more efficient. Mayfield’s 59.7% completion percentage is a far cry from the 71.4% mark he had last year. Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard needs to find a way to set Mayfield up with some quicker, easier throws to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers to get drives going and keep them rolling.

Because as exciting and badly needed as those two touchdown passes of 70+ yards were in last week’s game, relying on those explosive plays isn’t a sustainable game plan. The absence of Mike Evans, as well as the constantly changing offensive line — which still features a less-than-ideal right side — certainly limits some of what Grizzard can do with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White in the screen game and Cade Otton in the short-to-intermediate passing game. But if the Bucs are going to find some more consistency on offense, pairing a more efficient passing attack with a better run game is crucial. The potential absence of Irving this week could be yet another obstacle for Grizzard to overcome.

Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. and OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Defensively, the Bucs could use some more takeaways. Because outside of allowing some early touchdowns, that’s been their biggest weakness as a group. The pass rush has been solid-to-very good, teams haven’t been able to run the ball against them and the secondary has limited the explosive plays. But the Antoine Winfield Jr. forced fumble and Jamel Dean pick-six, both of which came in Week 3, remain the only takeaways of the season for Tampa Bay. Dropped interceptions have continued to plague the defense, with Lavonte David, Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish all letting easy ones slip through their hands. A big play from one of those guys, or perhaps Tykee Smith, could go a long way on Sunday.

As for the Seahawks, continued efficiency on offense will be their friend. Sam Darnold has completed 70% of his passes through four games (70-of-100), Kenneth Walker III is averaging 4.2 yards per carry and five pass-catchers who have a minimum of five receptions are averaging 10+ yards per catch. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been the true No. 1 receiver Darnold has needed him to be, with 18 of his 26 catches going for first downs on his way to 402 yards and 15.5 yards per catch. He’s averaging 100.5 yards per game through four games, with a season-low of 79 yards in Week 4.

Whether Seattle will be able to get Walker and the run game going is a huge key in this one. The Bucs run defense is the best he’s seen thus far, as opponents are only running for 85.0 yards per game against them. They also have a league-leading 32 tackles for loss, including 11 last week against the Eagles while holding Saquon Barkley to 43 yards and 2.3 yards per carry.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III Photo by: USA Today

Early on in the season, opponents had more success against the Tampa Bay defense with their running backs getting involved in the passing game. Bijan Robinson had a 50-yard touchdown catch and run in Week 1 on his way to 100 yards over six catches, then Nick Chubb had a big 27-yard catch and run in Week 2 followed by a 37-yard catch and run by Woody Marks.

But the Bucs have been better in the last two weeks at limiting explosive plays like those, as they’ve held Breece Hall and Saquon Barkley to identical stat lines through the air: four catches for 31 yards, averaging out to 7.8 yards per catch. Walker only has six catches through four games, so it’ll be interesting to see if the Seahawks try to test the Bucs in that area more than they have against other teams.

The Seahawks offense could use more production out of receivers other than Smith-Njigba, as his 402 yards is 240 more than the next receiver, Cooper Kupp, and his 26 receptions are 11 more than the next receiver, which is also Kupp. Outside of those two, tight end Elijah Arroyo is the third-leading pass-catcher with five catches on nine targets for 82 yards. Fellow tight end A.J. Barner has seven catches on nine targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns, too. If the Bucs can limit Smith-Njigba and Kupp the way they limited A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, the Seahawks passing game suddenly becomes limited. The problem, though, is that Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison are heading in the direction of being out for this one.

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald Photo by: USA Today

Mike Macdonald‘s defense is more likely to be a catalyst for a Seahawks win. That group is only allowing 16.8 points per game so far this season, which is tied for the second-best mark in the league. Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Ernest Jones IV, Derick Hall, Boye Mafe and Jarran Reed have all been exceptional within the Seattle front seven, and the back end of the defense features a host of high-end players, too, with Derion Kendrick, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, Coby Bryant, Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love all contributing. As a defense, Seattle’s seven interceptions through four games ties for the second-most in the league.

The Bucs come into Week 5 averaging 24.3 points per game, which is the most of any team the Seahawks have played thus far. The Steelers, who they beat 31-17, are the closest at 24.0 points per game, but the Cardinals (20.5), 49ers (20.0) and Saints (16.5) haven’t been at the same level as Mayfield and Tampa Bay’s offense have been, so this will be an intriguing matchup in that respect. Which side will give in? If the Buccaneer offense can start fast and keep the pressure on despite all of its injuries, it could lead to a massive road win to kick off October.

Key Players To Watch

Chris Godwin Jr. wasn’t happy with his return to the field last Sunday, and with his first game in 11 months under his belt, he’ll look to contribute more this week. The absence of Mike Evans means the passing game will fall on the shoulders of Godwin, star rookie Emeka Egbuka and veteran Sterling Shepard over the next few weeks. Egbuka may be Baker Mayfield‘s top guy while Godwin gets his feet under him, but it’s clear how much Godwin will still be a focus in this offense. It doesn’t get much worse than a 30% catch rate on 10 targets, so expect a big rebound performance this week to aid the Tampa Bay offense against a tough defense.

On the Bucs defense, Jacob Parrish deserves the spotlight. The 2025 third-round pick is currently the highest-graded nickel cornerback in the league through four weeks, and anyone who has watched him in his first four NFL games won’t be surprised. He has five pressures and one sack to go along with two passes defensed and three tackles for loss. He’s been a huge part of the Tampa Bay defense already, and it’ll be worth monitoring where he lines up come Sunday. If Jamel Dean and/or Benjamin Morrison miss the game, might the Bucs move Parrish to the outside, where he played the majority of his snaps at Kansas State? It’s a good option for Todd Bowles to have.

Bucs CB Jacob Parrish – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Seahawks offense runs through Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Like fellow Ohio State product Emeka Egbuka, Smith-Njigba is out to a phenomenal start this year. After the Seahawks traded D.K. Metcalf this offseason, the 23-year-old has stepped right up as the No. 1 target for new Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold. Smith-Njigba is tied for the sixth-most receptions in the league with 26, is second in the NFL with 402 receiving yards and has the fourth-most receiving first downs in the league. His 100.5 yards per game are second to only Puka Nacua, too. Tampa Bay will have to have a heavy focus on slowing this guy down if it’s going to come away with a win.

Ernest Jones IV has been everywhere this season for the Seattle defense. He leads the team in tackles with 33 and solo tackles with 18, plus his 2.5 sacks and two interceptions are tied for the team lead. The 2021 third-round pick out of South Carolina has been a force, and he’ll be ready to pounce in the run game as Tampa Bay tries to get it going. He’s a sound player, but the fact that he’s a threat to make a splash play makes him one to watch in this game.