INTRO: The Bucs have played eight games and are off to a roaring 6-2 start, thankfully avoiding a four-game losing streak that has afflicted the team in each of the last two years. Tampa Bay has a two-game lead over 4-4 Carolina in the NFC South with nine games left in the season, including two games versus the Panthers down the stretch. The bye week is the perfect time to dish out some Pewter Report midseason awards.

FAB 1. Bucs Midseason MVPs

Let’s take a look at the best of the best in Tampa Bay as the Bucs head into the bye week with a 6-2 record, which is tied for the best in the NFC right now.

Bucs Offensive MVP – QB Baker Mayfield

Although the talk about Baker Mayfield as the NFL MVP has cooled off over the last two weeks following a very off game in the loss at Detroit and a lackluster offensive showing in Tampa Bay’s 23-3 win at New Orleans, he’s still the MVP of the Buccaneers. Mayfield is not only the engine of the Bucs offense, he’s the heartbeat of this team. The Bucs will go where Mayfield takes them this year – and if the second half of the season is like the first half, it could be pretty far. Tampa Bay’s hero quarterback has made his share of hero plays so far this season.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield has completed 63.9% of his passes for 1,919 yards with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s done a remarkable job of limiting turnovers this year, and that’s a big reason why the Bucs are third in the league in turnover margin at plus-7. Mayfield is on pace to throw for 4,077 yards this year with 27 touchdowns and just four touchdowns. The guess here is that he’ll wind up with over 30 touchdowns this year when it’s all said and done, but not nearly as many as his 41 TDs last year. The key will be keeping his INTs to a minimum. Mayfield has also been an excellent scrambler this year so far.

Bucs Defensive MVP – SS Tykee Smith

Defensive tackle Vita Vea, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby and free safety Antoine Winfield Jr. could all be in consideration for this distinction, but Tykee Smith has taken his game to a new level with the position switch to strong safety. Smith is the team’s leading tackler with 66 stops – seven ahead of inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis – and he also leads the team with eight passes broken up while he waits for his first interception of the season.

Bucs SS Tykee Smith and Lions QB Jared Goff – Photo by: USA Today

Smith was tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and two interceptions last year as the team’s nickel cornerback during his rookie season. While he hasn’t forced a fumble yet, he recovered one and has also notched his first two NFL sacks this year. Smith has played fantastic football and really hasn’t played a bad game yet. He’s been a menace in the secondary as well as at the line of scrimmage with four tackles for loss.

Bucs Special Teams MVP – K Chase McLaughlin

Return specialist Kam Johnson gets consideration here, as he’s averaging 23.3 yards per kick return and 13.8 yards per punt return, in addition to being named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award winner in Week 1. But after a rough start to the season, kicker Chase McLaughlin has rebounded. McLaughlin has made 17-of-21 field goals (81%), including one kick that was blocked, in addition to making 16-of-17 extra points so far.

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today

McLaughlin, who has become the best kicker in Tampa Bay history, is one of the best long-range weapons in the NFL. He’s a perfect 8-of-8 from 50 yards and beyond. McLaughlin is coming off a stellar game in New Orleans when he made all three of his field goals – all of which were from beyond 50 yards – and that gave him this week’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award winner.

FAB 2. The Other Best Bucs At Midseason

These Buccaneers deserve recognition for some good-to-great individual play through the team’s impressive 6-2 start.

Best Rookie – WR Emeka Egbuka

Nickel cornerback Jacob Parrish is also in the running. The third-round pick out of Kansas State has 37 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups so far and has been as good as advertised. But wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been sensational during his rookie season. The Bucs’ first-round pick made game-winning plays in the first three games this year – at Atlanta, at Houston and against the Jets. Egbuka’s production has been critical early on, especially with Chris Godwin Jr. and Mike Evans’ injuries during the first half of the season.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Through eight games, Egbuka has 34 receptions for 562 yards and five touchdowns – all of which lead Tampa Bay. Egbuka is also the leading receiver among all rookies and is considered to be a favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. While Evans won’t be able to continue his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons this year due to his clavicle injury, Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver is on pace to get his first 1,000-yard season during his rookie year.

Best Free Agent Acquisition – CB Kindle Vildor

This should have been outside linebacker Haason Reddick, but given the fact that he’s disappointed from a big-play perspective, I’m going to give this honor to free agent cornerback Kindle Vildor instead. The Bucs have already had a couple of games where they have been without starting cornerbacks Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean. Vildor has had to fill in and done so admirably.

His veteran experience has already proven to be an upgrade over last year’s reserve cornerbacks, Josh Hayes and Tyrek Funderburk – the latter of which is no longer on the team. Vildor also had an interception early in the first quarter of the Bucs’ 30-19 win over the 49ers that helped set the tone for Tampa Bay defensively. For how little the Bucs paid Vildor, they have already received a sizeable return on that investment with him coming off the bench to help at cornerback early this season.

Newcomer of the Year – NCB Jacob Parrish

Following the likes of Tykee Smith, who was last year’s nickel cornerback, is tough. Smith was tied for the lead in Tampa Bay in interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (three) last year. But general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles have found magic again in the third round in back-to-back years with the selection of Jacob Parrish out of K-State. Like Smith, Parrish staked his claim on the starting nickelback job early in the offseason and never relented.

Bucs NCB Jacob Parrish and Jets QB Tyrod Taylor – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Parrish has proven to be solid in coverage in the slot, and also had to play outside cornerback against the Seahawks and 49ers due to injuries in the secondary. But where he’s excelled is as a sure tackler in the open field, and already has five tackles for loss. Parrish never recorded a sack for the Wildcats in college, but he’s already notched two as a blitzer from the slot. And Parrish also had a pressure on Tyrod Taylor that led to Jamel Dean’s pick-six against the Jets in Week 3.

Unsung Player of the Year – DT Elijah Roberts

Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard gets some consideration here, as does veteran running back Rachaad White. Both have stepped up and taken on more of a workload due to injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. in the receiving corps for Shepard, and the injuries to Bucky Irving at the running back spot for White. But little was expected from fifth-round pick Elijah Roberts this season, as the SMU product was transitioning from being an edge rusher in college to playing defensive tackle in the NFL.

Yet Roberts has steadily improved from an impressive preseason to surpassing veterans Logan Hall and Greg Gaines in snaps along the defensive line. Roberts has quickly picked up Todd Bowles defense and worked extremely hard at his craft. He’s got eight tackles and has two games with half a sack so far, as well as two pass breakups at the line of scrimmage. But Roberts is really coming on and look for this promising young pass rusher to fill up the stats sheet more in the second half of the season.

FAB 3. Most Improved And Most Disappointing Bucs

Like Pewter Report does after every game – win or lose – let’s examine the most disappointing Bucs players and the most impressive players – but from an improvement standpoint from a year ago.

Most Improved Offensive Player – QB Baker Mayfield

Not only is Baker Mayfield Tampa Bay’s Offensive MVP so far this year, he’s also the most improved player on offense – kind of by default. There really hasn’t been another offensive player who was on the roster last year that has really stepped up their game and shown improvement. Right guard Cody Mauch is out for the year, and right tackle Luke Goedeke has missed most of the season due to injury, as has wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. Bucky Irving has also missed half of the first half of the season due to multiple injuries. The rest of the unit has shown much progress from a year ago.

Where Mayfield has really improved this year is cutting down his interceptions. He’s only thrown two through the first eight games of the season. Last year Mayfield had already thrown nine of his league-high 16 interceptions by Week 8. Mayfield has also been more of a strategic scrambler, effectively rushing for key first downs, especially on third downs. Last year he ran for 378 yards while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. But this season Mayfield already has 158 yards on the ground and is averaging a career-high 7.2 yards per carry.

Most Improved Defensive Player – CB Jamel Dean

Jamel Dean is making a scene! Forced to take a big pay cut this offseason, Dean is betting on himself and playing his best football so far. He’s already produced three interceptions, which is a new career high, after recording just three over the last three years combined. One of those interceptions was a key pick-six against the Jets in the Bucs’ 29-27 win in Tampa Bay. Dean also has six pass breakups, which is second on the team, along with a team-leading two forced fumbles as well as his first NFL sack.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: USA Today

Not only has Dean made splash plays galore in the first half of the season, he’s also been exceptional in coverage in the seven games he’s played in. Dean has a 90.7 Pro Football Focus overall defensive grade and an 84.5 coverage grade. The 29-year old Dean is the highest-rated cornerback in the league right now per PFF, too. Quite a remarkable start to a season in which Dean bet on himself. He’ll be a free agent next year and will likely leave Tampa Bay.

Most Disappointing Offensive Player – WR Chris Godwin Jr.

Let me be clear. I’m not suggesting that Chris Godwin Jr. is a disappointment on this one. What’s been disappointing is that after he returned to action in Week 4 against Philadelphia after missing nearly a year due to a fractured ankle in Week 7 last year, Godwin has had a setback with his fibula. He played in two games – against the Eagles and the Seahawks – before pain started to set in on his surgically repaired leg. Godwin, who has just six catches for 52 yards (8.7 avg.), has missed the last three games and it’s uncertain as to when he will return, although the Bucs hope it’s against the Patriots after the bye week.

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

What’s troubling is that the pain in Godwin’s fibula is higher in the leg, not lower down near his surgically-repaired ankle. That could prove to be problematic if this injury lingers past the bye or if it returns later this year after he returns to action. The good news is that the Bucs didn’t put Godwin on injured reserve, so the team doesn’t believe it’s season ending. But on the heels of paying Godwin $66 million over three years this offseason, having him play in just two games is the biggest disappointment on offense so far.

Most Disappointing Defensive Player – OLB Haason Reddick

Haason Reddick was signed to a one-year deal this offseason to make splash plays, get sacks and be the best pass rusher up front in Tampa Bay. While he’s second on the team with 27 pressures, Reddick only has 1.5 sacks and has made little impact from a big-play standpoint through the first seven games of the season. Reddick suffered ankle and knee injuries in the Week 7 loss at Detroit and he’s expected to miss at least a game after the bye week due to his ankle sprain.

What’s even worse for Reddick is that his replacement, Anthony Nelson, has had three sacks in the last two games, including two at New Orleans along with a forced fumble and a pick-six. Nelson’s performance against the Saints earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. Reddick hoped that a big year in Tampa Bay could lead to one last big contract with the Bucs or another team at age 31. But so far he has failed to live up to his $14 million contract this year. There’s still time for him to make a splash when he returns, but so far his first year in Tampa Bay has been disappointing.

FAB 4. The Best And Worst Of 2025 – So Far

Here are my picks for the best and worst team and individual efforts of the 2025 season at the midway point.

Best Individual Performance – QB Baker Mayfield at Seattle

Bucs rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a fantastic game at Seattle in Week 5, catching a game-high seven passes for 163 yards (23.3 avg.) and one touchdown. But the reason why Tampa Bay’s first-round pick was so sensational was because of the fantastic day that quarterback Baker Mayfield against the Seahawks. After getting riled up by a Seattle fan prior to the game, Mayfield was locked in from the start and out-dueled Sam Darnold, who threw four touchdowns against Todd Bowles’ defense, but also tossed a critical interception in the fourth quarter that led to Tampa Bay’s victory.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield completed 29-of-33 passes (87.9%) for 379 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. That’s the highest completion percentage Mayfield has had in any game since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. Mayfield was on point in Seattle and definitely needed to be given the fact that this shootout ended in a 38-35 victory for Tampa Bay.

Best Win of the Year – 30-19 Win vs. San Francisco

While the Week 1 win at Atlanta might have been the most impactful because it got Tampa Bay’s 2025 season off to a great start with a 1-0 lead in the NFC South division, the 30-19 victory over San Francisco was the best win so far. This Bucs victory has been years in the making, as the 49ers have beaten Tampa Bay in each of the last three years, including a 23-20 heartbreaker at Raymond James Stadium in 2024.

It was a battle of two beat up teams this year and the Bucs prevailed with Todd Bowles’ defense coming to life with six sacks of Mac Jones and two interceptions, while holding Christian McCaffrey in check as a runner and a receiver. Rookie wide receivers Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson came through with their first NFL touchdowns for Baker Mayfield. As sweet as it was to finally get a primetime win in Week 2 at Houston and win a hard-fought game at Seattle, the sweetest win so far was against San Francisco.

Best Play of the Year – WR Emeka Egbuka 25-Yard Game-Winning TD At Atlanta

It’s hard to beat Anthony Nelson’s dramatic pick-six last week at New Orleans, especially when he stiff-armed Spencer Rattler on the way to the end zone. But Emeka Egbuka’s game-winning 25-yard touchdown at Atlanta with 59 seconds left was more impactful. And what a debut for the rookie receiver, who had two touchdowns in his NFL debut, proving that the moment wasn’t too big for him.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Egbuka also had a sensational 77-yard touchdown catch against Philadelphia in Week 4 where he caught the ball in between two Eagles defenders, who collided with each other as he raced towards the end zone. Either way, Egbuka has produced the best play of the year this season so far.

Worst Loss of the Year – 24-9 Loss At Detroit

Tampa Bay has only had two losses so far, which is great compared to last year when the Bucs started the season 4-5. Out of the two losses – a 31-25 defeat at home at the hands of the Eagles and a 24-9 loss on the road against the Lions – I’m going with loss at Detroit. Baker Mayfield was not on top of his game with a slew of errant throws on the night, in addition to his second interception of the season.

Tampa Bay’s offense scored just nine points, the lowest point production of the season thus far. The Bucs defense also had trouble slowing down Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 82 yards. Tampa Bay was not ready to wrestle away NFC supremacy from Detroit on Monday Night Football.

FAB 5. Predicted Record Down The Stretch

In my preseason predictions in SR’s FAB 5 column back on August 29, I had the Buccaneers at 5-3 at the bye week and finishing the 2025 season with an 11-6 record. I was correct on the outcome of all of Tampa Bay’s games except I had the team losing at Seattle. So in my mind, the Bucs are playing with some house money right now.

I had Tampa Bay winning against New England coming out of the bye week – although I didn’t expect the Patriots to be this good with a 6-2 record. I also had the Bucs losing to the Bills and the Rams in back-to-back away games. Now I think it’s possible that the Bucs could still be 1-2 in these games, but a 2-1 record wouldn’t surprise me.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I have the Bucs winning out with an exception of a loss in the creamsicle game on Thursday Night Football to the Falcons. Now I’m not sure Tampa Bay doesn’t sweep Atlanta. And it might be difficult to sweep the Panthers as I had predicted. Anyway, I had the Bucs going 6-3 down the stretch to finish strong for the third year in a row, and winning a fifth straight NFC South title.

But with Tampa Bay at 6-2 instead of 5-3 as a forecast, I’m inclined to believe this team could finish 12-5 instead of 11-6. I wouldn’t even rule out a 13-win season as long as the Bucs get healthy – and stay healthy down the stretch. But unless the bottom falls out for some reason, the floor for this Tampa Bay team seems to be 11 wins and another home playoff game to begin the postseason.