I’ve been writing Bucs Record Watch since 2018. It’s a feature that has spanned multiple different websites, beginning when Tampa Bay was still in the midst of its playoff drought and continuing through the Super Bowl season, the Tom Brady era and extending to my time here at Pewter Report.

I say all of this to make a point, which is that this installment of Bucs Record Watch may be the first one that feels a tad bit hollow given the stakes of the game this team is about to play against the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Tampa Bay is looking to snap a four-game losing streak and finish 8-9 to at least give itself a chance to continue its reign atop the NFC South and extend its franchise-best playoff streak to six seasons.

Help from New Orleans of all teams is required for that to happen, but a win on Saturday is the first step. And that’s why anything regarding records and milestones feels secondary and even tertiary.

This could also be the final Bucs Record Watch that includes Lavonte David, should the 35-year-old linebacker decide to retire in the coming months. The same could be said for Mike Evans, who isn’t under contract for 2026 right now and could also be on retirement watch at any point in the coming years despite the fact that he clearly still has it at 32 years old.

With all of that said, the Bucs Record Watch show must go on because as usual, there will be other storylines to follow for Tampa Bay in its regular season finale, 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.

Last week, Mike Evans became the 22nd player in NFL history to break 13,000 career receiving yards and the 10th player in league history to reach 13,000 career receiving yards and 100 career receiving touchdowns.

Now, let’s see where things stand heading into Week 18.

Bucs Record Watch: Week 18 vs. Panthers

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is still one win away from passing Brad Johnson (26) for the fifth-most by a quarterback in Bucs history. If he can earn his 27th win, he’ll be one behind Jameis Winston (28) for the fourth-most.

With 20 more completions, Mayfield will pass Trent Dilfer (1,117) for the fifth-most in team history.

Mayfield is 15 passing touchdowns away from passing Tom Brady (108) for the second-most in franchise history.

Rachaad White

Is this the final game that White will play in a Buccaneer uniform? That’s a question that will be answered in the coming months. But for now, he remains one touchdown away from passing Errict Rhett (25) for the fifth-most touchdowns from scrimmage by a running back in Bucs history.

White also remains two receiving touchdowns away from tying Mike Alstott (13) for the most by a running back/fullback in team history.

Mike Evans

Evans needs 29 receiving yards to pass Jason Witten (13,046) for the 21st-most in NFL history and 72 more yards to pass Steve Largent (13,089) for 20th-most.

With 46 receiving yards, Evans will pass Reggie Wayne (13,063) for the ninth-most by a player through 12 seasons of their career, while 53 more yards will move him ahead of Terrell Owens (13,070) for the eighth-most.

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

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

Saturday will be Evans’ 176th game as a Buc, leaving him seven away from tying Paul Gruber (183) for the sixth-most in franchise history. It’ll be No. 13’s 175th start, which will have him eight away from tying Gruber (183) for the fourth-most in Buccaneer history.

Chris Godwin Jr.

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

Saturday will be Godwin’s 120th game with Tampa Bay, leaving him one away from tying Chidi Ahanotu, Jimmie Giles and Lee Roy Selmon (121) for the 21st-most in team history.

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka is four 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 rookie in team history and tie Michael Clayton (7 in 2004) for the fourth-most.

With two receiving touchdowns, Egbuka can tie Jalen McMillan (8 in 2024) for the third-most by a rookie in franchise history.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by IMAGN Images – Jim Dedmon

Egbuka is 35 receiving yards away from passing Mike Williams (964 in 2010) for the third-most by a rookie in Bucs history.

With 70 receiving yards on Saturday, Egbuka will join Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004) and Mike Evans (1,051 in 2014) as the only rookies in franchise history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season.

Tez Johnson

Johnson is three receiving touchdowns away from tying Marques Colston (8 in 2006) for the most in NFL 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 by a tight end in team history 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.

Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: USA Today

Saturday will be Vea’s 112th game, tying him with Donald Penn for the 30th-most in franchise history.

Yaya Diaby

Diaby is 1.5 sacks away from passing Booger McFarland (20.0) for the 22nd-most in Bucs history.

Jason Pierre-Paul

Pierre-Paul is a half-sack away from breaking a tie with Brad Culpepper (33.0) for the 10th-most in team history. He needs two sacks to pass Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) for the ninth-most.

Lavonte David

David needs one more takeaway to reach 35 for 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.

David also needs one interception to join more elite company, 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 become just the 17th player overall to reach 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.

David is seven tackles away moving into sixth all-time in tackles recorded by StatsPass, which dates back to 1994. In doing so, he would pass Derrick Brooks (1,714) and become the Bucs’ all-time leading tackler, per StatsPass records.

With one more pass defensed, David can pass Carlton Davis III (73) for the fourth-most in team history.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

David is four sacks away from passing Shaq Barrett (45.0) for the fifth-most in franchise history.

Saturday marks the 215th game David will play as a Buc, leaving him nine behind Derrick Brooks (224) for the second-most in Buccaneer history. It will also be his 215th start, which will have him six behind Brooks (221) for second-most in team history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield needs one sack to break 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 will tie Quintin Mikell for the most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

Winfield is one more forced fumble away from tying 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.

That next forced fumble would also move Winfield ahead of Lee Roy Selmon (10) for the fourth-most in team history and tie him with Cecil Johnson and John Cannon (11) for the third-most.

Winfield is one more pass defensed away from passing Simeon Rice (37) for the 11th-most in franchise history.

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

Chase McLaughlin

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

Bucs K Chase McLaughlin – Photo by: USA Today

With three more points, McLaughlin will pass Ryan Succop (384) for the eighth-most in team history.

Jason Licht

Licht is two wins away from reaching 100 (between the regular season and playoffs) as the Bucs’ general manager. He would become the first G.M. in franchise history to reach that milestone.