Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs game with six quick-hitting topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what will lead to a Tampa Bay victory or loss, and a couple of key matchups to watch each week.

The Bucs are 3-1 after losing to the Eagles and suffering a rash of injuries in the process. Tampa Bay travels to Seattle to face a 3-1 Seahawks team in a battle of teams that made their NFL debuts in 1976. This Week 5 contest will be a throwback uniform game for both Tampa Bay and Seattle, which has won three straight games. The Bucs will be hoping for a faster start on both sides of the ball to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs

For the 3-1 Buccaneers, Sunday’s showdown against the 3-1 Seahawks is about preventing last week’s 31-25 loss to the Eagles from turning into a losing streak. Tampa Bay has opened the season strong in each of the last three seasons, but suffered an 0-4 losing streak in each of the last two years to derail the team’s momentum. Beating a quality Seattle team would be a statement win against a legitimate playoff contender.

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and SirVocea Dennis – Photo by: USA Today

At 3-1, the Bucs are still atop the NFC South by a game over the Falcons. But a loss could allow doubt to creep in with another “here we ago” slide with tough games against the 49ers (3-1) and Lions (3-1) on deck in the coming weeks. This game is about starting fast on both sides of the ball for Tampa Bay, which fell behind 24-3 to Philadelphia right before halftime. The Buccaneers have been outscored 34-13 in the first quarter combined in all four games so far.

Todd Bowles’ team also needs to cut down on penalties. The Bucs are averaging nearly eight penalties per game, while the Seahawks have shown more discipline and composure with just five penalties per game on average, which is the second-fewest in the NFL at the start of the 2025 season. At stake is more than just a win. It’s about validating the Bucs’ hot start, staying ahead of the Falcons in the NFC South race, and avoiding one loss from turning into two and possibly starting a losing streak that the team desperately wants to avoid.

What’s At Stake For The Seahawks

For the Seahawks, this Week 5 showdown against Tampa Bay carries real significance in shaping their early-season narrative. At 3-1, Seattle has established itself as a legit contender in the NFC, but a loss here would muddy the waters and raise questions about whether they can sustain their strong start. After a close 17-13 loss to San Francisco in the season opener, Seattle has ripped off three straight wins, including an impressive 31-17 win at Pittsburgh in Week 2.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III and QB Sam Darnold – Photo by: USA Today

New quarterback Sam Darnold has picked up where he left off in Minnesota and has done a solid job leading this offense. Completing a career-high 70% of his passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions through the first four games, he’s on pace to have a similar season like he did last year with the Vikings when he passed for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Darnold’s primary weapon and is off to a hot start with 26 receptions for 402 yards (15.5 avg.) and one touchdown.

Mike Macdonald’s defense is also off to a great start and excels at stopping the run and intercepting passes. The Seahawks defense will be the toughest challenge yet for the Bucs offense, which has struggled with slow starts. Although it was a while ago, Tampa Bay has had some hard times trying to win in Seattle. Both of the team’s last two visits to the Northwest have ended in losses in overtime in 2013 and 2019.

The Bucs Win If…

For the Buccaneers to notch a critical road win in Seattle, it starts with balance on offense. Baker Mayfield has to continue to avoid turnovers, as he suffered his first interception of the year in the fourth quarter in the loss to Philadelphia last week. The Seahawks already have seven interceptions this year in four games. With Bucky Irving’s status for the game in question due to injury, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker may be called upon to provide Mayfield with a ground game to lean on. White had 105 yards rushing against Seattle in Tampa Bay’s 21-16 win in Germany in 2022.

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay’s offensive line needs to do a better job protecting Mayfield and opening holes. Hopefully a second week of continuity with the return of Tristan Wirfs at left tackle and Ben Bredeson and Graham Barton moving back to left guard and center, respectively, helps and the line returns to being a strength of Tampa Bay’s offense. The hope is that Chris Godwin shook off some rust in his return to action last week and has better production alongside Emeka Egbuka and Sterling Shepard in Seattle. Getting off to a faster start and an early lead is critical this week.

Defensively, it’s about stopping running back Kenneth Walker III before he starts. Tampa Bay has done an amazing job with tackles for loss, and has 32 tackles for loss this season, including 11 last week vs. Philadelphia. Getting more takeaways is an absolute must. The Bucs have two takeaways on defense – both coming against the Jets in Week 3 – and that has been an absolutely disappointing aspect of Todd Bowles’ defense so far. Rattling Sam Darnold and forcing him into some picks is vital this week.

The Seahawks Win If…

For the Seahawks to defend their home turf against Tampa Bay, Sam Darnold has to be sharp and efficient, spreading the ball around to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Seattle’s tight ends Elijah Arroyo and A.J. Barner. The Seahawks use a lot of 12 personnel (two tight ends) to help establish Kenneth Walker III and the ground game. Winning the line of scrimmage is a key to victory for the Seahawks, and if Walker can help establish a consistent running game, it will allow Darnold’s play-action pass game to open up.

Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon and LB Ernest Jones IV – Photo by: USA Today

Protection is key, too, as Seattle’s offensive line has to neutralize Vita Vea, who had two sacks last week, and limit the Bucs’ interior pressure. Darnold has only been sacked six times this season, and the team must get better blocking from right guard Anthony Bradford, who is the obvious weak link up front. Tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas need to keep Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby at bay.

On defense, the Seahawks must do what they do best and stop the run to make Tampa Bay one-dimensional, forcing Baker Mayfield into predictable passing downs. That means a strong game from defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, who have 2.5 sacks apiece, in Mike Macdonald’s 3-4 defense. Seattle has three players with two interceptions apiece, including do-it-all linebacker Ernest Jones IV. The Seahawks must continue to be ballhawks on defense, and need better play from cornerback Tariq Woolen, who has had a slow start to the season, on the outside.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs Slot WRs vs. Seahawks Slot Defenders

Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard has done a good job of rotating receivers into the slot this year. Of the trio of receivers who are going to start in this game, Emeka Egbuka, Sterling Shepard and Chris Godwin Jr., Shepard has played more in the slot this year than the others, although that could change based on the matchups Grizzard wants to try to create. Godwin spent the majority of his snaps outside in his return to action, but that could have been an adjustment based on not having Mike Evans, who is traditionally an X (split end), available versus the Eagles. Evans remains out with a hamstring injury.

Bucs WR Sterling Shepard – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield’s passing accuracy has taken a tumble from a career-high and franchise-record 71.4% last year to 59.7% this season. Grizzard needs to help Mayfield’s efficiency increase with more simple, quick throws to the slot to get the ball in the hands of his receivers for more yards after catch potential.

Seattle’s defense has seven interceptions this season with six of them coming in or near the middle of the field. Linebacker Ernest Jones IV has two, as does nickelback Derion Kendrick and safety Coby Bryant. Throwing across the middle of the field could come with some peril in this game, but the Bucs slot receivers need to run crisp routes and create separation from nickelbacks Kendrick and Devon Witherspoon to pick up yards in chunks and move the chains.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Defense

Bucs DT Vita Vea vs. Seahawks RG Anthony Bradford

Vita Vea has been the best and most consistent defensive lineman and pass rusher this season. Coming off a two-sack game against the Eagles, Vea is once again having a Pro Bowl-caliber season and is a real problem for opposing offensive linemen. The loss of Calijah Kancey could prompt head coach and defensive play-caller Todd Bowles to use Vea more as a three-technique defensive tackle moving forward. Trying to isolate Vea against Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford could pay some serious dividends in Week 5.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

Seattle will try to double team Vea to help Bradford, who is the team’s worst offensive lineman by far. But Bowles could counter by using Elijah Simmons or Elijah Roberts as a nose tackle in the A gap to try to prevent that and isolate Vea on Bradford, who is a terrible pass protector.

Bradford has a career-low 29.6 Pro Football Focus pass protection grade this season and has allowed seven pressures and a sack. His technique is poor as he will often lunge with his head down and he’ll be late off the snap with his slow feet. Winning at the snap is the key to defeating the 6-foot-4, 334-pound Bradford, and Vea has the suddenness and the power to make life miserable for him on Sunday.