A new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Each week, the Pewter Reporters tackle another tough question: Who has the step up against the Commanders?

Scott Reynolds: Bucky Irving Needs A Big Night In First Playoff Game

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

I was tempted to say wide receiver Mike Evans. After all, Evans and Pro Bowl left tackle Tristan Wirfs have the most playoff experience on offense with four straight years of trips to the postseason. Evans has been on a tear, with nearly 700 receiving yards since the bye week en route to his 11th straight year of 1,000 yards. But given the fact that Washington has the No. 3-ranked pass defense and the No. 30-ranked run defense, I’m going to go with running back Bucky Irving instead.

Irving burst on to the scene in Week 1, leading the Bucs in rushing against the Commanders with 62 yards on nine carries, including a 31-yard jaunt that served to be the debut of the “Bucky! Bucky! Bucky!” chant at Raymond James Stadium. Since that game Irving has become the starting running back over Rachaad White in Tampa Bay and has become the first 1,000-yard Bucs back since Doug Martin did it in 2015. His ability to make defenders miss in the hole and at the second level is already elite.

Irving finished his rookie season with 1,122 yards and eight rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He also caught 47 passes for 392 yards and averaged 8.3 yards per carry. If Irving, who scored the game-clinching, fourth quarter touchdown on Sunday versus the Saints, can have a big game against the Commanders with 80 yards or more on the ground it only increases the Bucs’ chances of winning. With Tampa Bay going 0-4 in primetime games this year, Irving needs to become a primetime player against Washington to snap that streak and help his team advance in the playoffs.

Matt Matera: Yaya Diaby Can Right A Lot Of Wrongs

Chargers QB Justin Herbert – Photo by: USA Today

There’s no other way to describe Bucs outside linebacker Yaya Diaby’s season other than bizarre. Diaby was masterful in training camp, lighting it up with sacks to the point where many of us were thinking he’d hit double digits in the regular season. Then he had an ankle injury and we held our breath until the start of the season when the games counted. Once we knew Diaby was returning on time, the expectations remained high.

Then week after week, we waited for Diaby to meet those expectations. Even going into the Wild Card playoff round, there are those that believe Diaby is going to turn into the ultimate pass rusher that many have been expecting. That ship has sailed, but it doesn’t mean Diaby can’t make an impact. In fact, Diaby has found a way to contribute to the defense each week. He’s great against the run and generates a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He just needs to get to them a little faster.

It’s possible that Diaby turned a corner in the season finale versus the Saints where he recorded five tackles, including four tackles for loss and one sack. That put Diaby at 4.5 sacks on the season. Underwhelming? No doubt about it after recording 7.5 last season as a rookie. But the playoffs have a way of turning players into stars and heroes. Make one big play with a sack or a turnover and everything else gets thrown out the window. Diaby understands that he needs to rise to the occasion.

But will he? For Diaby’s sake – and for Tampa Bay’s defensive sake – let’s hope so.

Bailey Adams: Bucs Need A Big Return From Antoine Winfield Jr.

Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

I’m taking a bit of a shot here because there’s no guarantee he makes it back and is able to suit up on Sunday. But my player who needs to step up in this first-round game against the Commanders is safety Antoine Winfield Jr., who has missed the last four games and has missed a total of eight games this season due to injury.

The 2023 All-Pro selection has had a disappointing 2024 campaign. Injuries have cost him half of the year, but even when he’s been healthy enough to play, he hasn’t put up anything close to the type of production he had last year. After having a hand in 13 takeaways in 2023, he has just a single fumble recovery over nine games this year.

The Bucs need him back in the lineup on Sunday. And they need the 2023 Winfield to make an appearance if they’re going to stop Jayden Daniels and the Commanders offense from getting whatever they want.

One of the biggest issues (among plenty of them) with this Tampa Bay defense is the fact that it can’t seem to muster up anything in the way of takeaways. Winfield is one of the only players on this defense who has a track record of forcing them, and if the Bucs are going to make any noise in the playoffs, they’re going to need to create some turnovers. It’s something they did well during their Super Bowl LV run, and they’re going to need some splash plays to keep this season alive. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the likeliest candidate go get some.

Adam Slivon: Lavonte David Could Be The Spy – And Bucs’ Star – On Defense

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If this Lavonte David’s last ride, the veteran inside linebacker has to leave it all out on the gridiron on Sunday night as the Bucs take on the Commanders in the Wild Card playoffs. David remains a critical part of Tampa Bay’s defense and will be vital in stopping Washington’s offense. While he has lost a step from his prime in coverage, he will be charged with limiting veteran tight end Zach Ertz in the passing game.

Isaiah Delgado: Can Jalen McMillan Play Like A Veteran?

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While most NFL fans will be tuning in on Sunday night to watch veteran Bucs superstar Mike Evans face off against his former nemesis Marshon Lattimore and Commanders, the player who I’ll be watching most closely is rookie receiver Jalen McMillan. The Bucs defeated the Commanders in Week 1 thanks in part to McMillan, who had one reception for 32 yards. That catch was his first-ever NFL touchdown. However, if not for an early drop, the rookie would have had two scores in that game. Ultimately, the game ended as a dominant 37-20 victory, making the dropped TD inconsequential.

The star of that game for the Bucs was a healthy Chris Godwin, who led all receivers with eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. With Godwin out and Mike Evans battling Lattimore, who was acquired in a trade with New Orleans, McMillan’s services will likely be more of a necessity than the bonus they served to be in Week 1. After the rookie’s debut touchdown, he went seven games without scoring a touchdown. Luckily, since the team’s bye week, though, he’s looked like the player Pewter Report saw in training camp, scoring seven touchdowns in his final five games as the game has seemingly slowed down for him.

The Bucs will need the rookie receiver to carry his confidence over to the postseason in order for the team’s championship aspirations to stand a chance, which all starts on Sunday night. In Tampa’s must-win game against the Saints, McMillan came up huge in the fourth quarter when he caught a 32-yard touchdown pass that gave the Bucs their first lead of the game. However, that came just two plays after he let his emotions get the best of him on a 33-yard reception, and his unsportsmanlike celebration pushed the team back 15 yards.

That drive highlights the highs and lows of the ascending receiver’s rookie development: The exciting thing about rookies is that you have no idea how they’ll react when the pressure of the playoffs sets in. Pressure bursts pipes, but it also creates diamonds. When general manager Jason Licht selected McMillan with the No. 92 overall, the hope was that he’d break out as a diamond in the rough, just like fellow third-rounder Chris Godwin was back in 2017. It sure looks that way after eight touchdowns during his rookie season. The Bucs would love to see another TD from McMillan versus the Commanders.