There was a time when the Bucs would hit this part of the calendar year and know that their season was winding down and in its final weeks. But every year since 2020, that hasn’t been the case. This team has played into the second weekend of January in each of the last five years, winning the Super Bowl in 2020 and taking home four straight NFC South titles in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

But as the 2025 Bucs hit Week 17, they’re 7-8. Their backs are against the wall and while they aren’t quite at the level of “it’s over” as the 2009-2019 teams were at the turn of the new year, it’s close. A loss on Sunday afternoon to the 6-9 Dolphins in Miami could very well mean the end of a five-year playoff streak and a four-year division title streak.

A Panthers loss to the Seahawks at least extends some hope into Week 18, but the Bucs shouldn’t want to count on that. It’s time for them to take matters into their own hands, stop this three-game losing streak, get back to .500 and set up a winner-take-all game against the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium in Week 18.

As bad as it’s gotten with three straight losses, six losses in seven games since the bye week and seven losses in the last nine games overall, Tampa Bay controls its own destiny. Beat Miami and beat Carolina? You’re in. It’s that simple, right?

As usual, there will be other storylines to follow for Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon, 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 key Bucs are moving toward.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin Jr. and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Jeffrey Jones/PR

Last week, Chris Godwin Jr. joined elite company in Mike Evans on two different fronts. He joined Evans as the only two players in Bucs history to reach 600 career receptions with the team, plus they are now the only two in team history to break 7,500 career receiving yards. Rachaad White also became just the 13th player in franchise history to reach 4,000 career scrimmage yards with the team, and Lavonte David broke the 1,700-tackle mark for his career, becoming the seventh player to officially reach that milestone, according to StatsPass’ tackle records that date back to 1994.

And finally, Chase McLaughlin connected on his 11th consecutive field goal from 50+ yards without a miss, which is the longest streak in a single season in NFL history.

Now, let’s see where things stand heading into Week 17.

Bucs Record Watch: Week 17 at Dolphins

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is still one win away from passing Brad Johnson (26) for the fifth-most by a quarterback in Bucs history. With a 27th win, he would also be one behind Jameis Winston (28) for the fourth-most.

Mayfield is 17 passing touchdowns away from moving ahead of Tom Brady (108) for the second-most in franchise history.

Rachaad White

White needs one more touchdown to pass Errict Rhett (25) for the fifth-most touchdowns from scrimmage in team history.

With two more receiving touchdowns, White will tie Mike Alstott (13) for the most by a running back/fullback in franchise history.

Mike Evans

Evans needs two more receptions to pass Jimmy Smith (862) for the 31st-most in NFL history.

With 13 more receiving yards, Evans will reach 13,000 for his career, making him the 22nd player in league history to reach that milestone.

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

With 60 more yards, Evans can pass Jason Witten (13,046) for the 21st-most in NFL history, while 103 more yards will move him ahead of Steve Largent (13,089) for 20th-most.

Evans is four receiving touchdowns away from tying Tony Gonzalez (111) for the ninth-most in NFL history.

Sunday marks Evans’ 175th game as a Buc, leaving him eight away from tying Paul Gruber (183) for the sixth-most in franchise history. It will be Evans’ 174th start, too, leaving him just nine away from tying Gruber (183) for the fourth-most in team history.

Chris Godwin Jr.

Godwin is five touchdowns away from passing James Wilder (46) for the third-most touchdowns from scrimmage in Bucs history.

With 113 more scrimmage yards, Godwin will pass Warrick Dunn (7,690) for the third-most in team history.

Sunday will be Godwin’s 119th game, moving him ahead of Randy Grimes (118) for the 24th-most in franchise history.

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka is seven receptions away from passing Mike Williams (65 in 2010) and Mike Alstott (65 in 1996) for the third-most by a rookie in Bucs history.

With one more receiving touchdown, Egbuka will pass O.J. Howard (6 in 2017) for the fifth-most by a Tampa Bay rookie while tying Michael Clayton (7 in 2004) for the fourth-most. Two more receiving touchdowns will tie him with Jalen McMillan (8 in 2024) for the third-most.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Egbuka needs 55 more receiving yards to pass Mike Williams (964 in 2010) for the third-most by a rookie in Buccaneer history.

With 90 more receiving yards, Egbuka will become the third Bucs rookie ever to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark, joining Mike Evans (1,051 in 2014) and Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004).

Tez Johnson

Johnson remains three receiving touchdowns away from tying Marques Colston (8 in 2006) for the most in league history by a rookie drafted in the seventh round.

Cade Otton

Otton is one receiving touchdown away from passing Ron Hall (10) for the ninth-most ever by a Tampa Bay tight end and tying Calvin Magee and Alex Smith (11) for the seventh-most.

Vita Vea

Vea is 4.5 sacks away from passing David Logan (39.0) for the seventh-most in team history.

Sunday will be Vea’s 111th game with Tampa Bay, tying Cecil Johnson for the 31st-most in franchise history.

Jason Pierre-Paul

If Pierre-Paul is once again elevated from the practice squad, he’ll have a chance to get the half-sack he needs to break a tie with Brad Culpepper (33.0) for the 10th-most in franchise history. He also needs just two sacks to pass Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) for the ninth-most.

Lavonte David

David needs 10 more tackles to move into sixth all-time in terms of tackles officially recorded by StatsPass, which dates back to 1994.

One more takeaway would give David 35 in his career, which would put him in a group with Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher as the only players since at least 1982 with 40+ sacks and 35+ takeaways.

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

David is also one interception away from join more elite company in league history, as he would join Ray Lewis, Charles Woodson and Brian Dawkins as the only players since 1994 with 15+ interceptions, 15+ forced fumbles and 15+ fumble recoveries. He would also be just the 17th player overall to hit those marks, joining the aforementioned three Hall of Famers as well as Mike Merriweather, Steve Nelson, Carnell Lake, Reggie Williams, Joey Browner, Rod Woodson, Wes Hopkins, Bill Romanowski, Cris Dishman, Dennis Smith, Ronnie Lott, Wilber Marshall and Nesby Glasgow.

After picking up a sack last week, David needs four more to pass Shaq Barrett (45.0) for the fifth-most in team history.

One more pass defensed would move David ahead of Carlton Davis III (73) for the fourth-most in Bucs history.

Sunday will be David’s 214th game as a Buc, leaving him 10 behind Derrick Brooks (224) for the second-most in franchise history. It’ll also be his 214th start, which will have him seven behind Brooks (221) for the second-most of any Buccaneer ever.

Jamel Dean

Dean is five passes defensed away from passing Donnie Abraham (64) for the sixth-most in team history.

One more interception would tie Dean with Dwight Smith, Jeris White and Mark Robinson for the 13th-most interceptions in franchise history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield is one sack away from breaking a tie with Adam Archuleta, Bill Bates and Roman Harper for the 11th-most by a defensive back since 1982.

With two more strip sacks, Winfield can tie Quintin Mikell for the most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

Winfield needs one more forced fumble to tie Jairus Byrd, Cedric Griffin, Chris Harris, Sammy Knight, Michael Lewis, Troy Polamalu and his father, Antoine Winfield Sr. (13) for the 16th-most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

With his next forced fumble, Winfield can also move ahead of Lee Roy Selmon (10) for the fourth-most in team history and tie Cecil Johnson and John Cannon (11) for the third-most.

Winfield needs one more pass defensed to pass Simeon Rice (37) for the 11th-most in team history.

Winfield is still 10.5 sacks away from passing Ronde Barber (28.0) for the most by a defensive back in Bucs history and the second-most in league history.

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin is eight field goals away from passing Donald Igwebuike (94) for the fifth-most in franchise history.

McLaughlin also needs only eight more points scored to pass Ryan Succop (384) for the eighth-most in team history.

Jason Licht

With two more wins, Licht will reach 100 as the Bucs’ general manager. He would become the first G.M. in franchise history to reach that milestone.