After opening up the 2023 regular season with a big 20-17 road win over the Vikings, the 1-0 Bucs return home to Raymond James Stadium this Sunday for a contest against the 0-1 Bears.

Tampa Bay’s Week 1 win wasn’t pretty, as the offense started slow and even though the defense played well and forced three turnovers, the team ultimately needed a clutch 57-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin to seal the deal. Meanwhile, Chicago began its season with its latest disappointment against the Packers. Even with Aaron Rodgers out and Jordan Love in, Green Bay continued its dominance in the long-running division rivalry.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But now, it’s time for the Bucs and Bears to renew an old rivalry of their own. The old NFC Central foes will square off at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, with the hosts looking to start 2-0 for the third straight year while the visitors look to avoid a disappointing 0-2 start to the season.

Getting to 2-0 would be especially big for Todd Bowles’ team, as a Monday night game against the Eagles (2-0) and a road trip to New Orleans to face the Saints (1-0) await in the next two weeks. A win over Chicago would mean Tampa Bay — at worst — would hit its Week 5 bye at .500.

This early-season matchup promises to be interesting, and there is plenty to play for even though it’s only Week 2. That can be said in terms of a collective team effort, but it’s also true for plenty of individuals on the Bucs’ side of the field. There are quite a few milestones and records that some of Tampa Bay’s players are chasing in their 2023 home debut.

Last week, Mike Evans tied Anquan Boldin and Reggie Wayne (82) for 28th on the NFL’s all-time receiving touchdowns leaderboard while passing Michael Husted (502) for the second-most points scored in Bucs history. Chris Godwin tied Keyshawn Johnson (15) for the franchise’s longest streak of games with five-plus receptions, and Carlton Davis passed Donnie Abraham (64) for fourth-most passes defensed in team history.

Now, let’s see where things stand heading into the Bucs’ home opener.

Mike Evans

With one receiving touchdown, Evans will tie Antonio Brown, Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall (83) for 25th-most in NFL history. Two more will tie him with Mark Clayton, Tommy McDonald, Irving Fryar and Andre Rison (84) for 21st-most, while three more will tie him with Lance Alworth, Jimmy Graham, Hines Ward and Paul Warfield (85) for 17th-most.

With a start on Sunday, Evans will tie Mike Alstott (137) for sixth-most in team history. It will also mark the Bucs’ all-time leading receiver’s 139th game played, leaving him one game behind Warren Sapp (140) for 11th-most in franchise history.

After passing Michael Husted for second-most points scored in team history last week, Evans will now begin the climb toward the top spot. He is 87 points behind Martin Gramatica (592) for the franchise record.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: USA Today

Chris Godwin

With one more receiving score, Godwin will tie Cameron Brate (33) for third-most in team history. Two more will tie him with Jimmie Giles (34) for second-most.

One more touchdown of any kind will be Godwin’s 34th total touchdown as a Buc, which would tie him with Giles (34) for fourth-most in franchise history.

Godwin needs a five-reception game on Sunday to set a new franchise-best streak of such games. He would break a tie with Keyshawn Johnson (15), plus he would tie Marvin Harrison (16) for the 13th-longest streak in NFL history.

Trey Palmer

With another receiving touchdown this week, Palmer would become the third player in Bucs history with receiving touchdowns in his first two career games. He would be the first player to accomplish the feat since the late Mike Williams did it in 2010.

Will Gholston

Sunday will be Gholston’s 155th game with the Bucs, which will put him just three behind Mike Alstott (158)for eighth-most in franchise history.

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Shaq Barrett

Barrett is fifth on the Bucs’ all-time sack leaderboard, and he needs 15 more to pass Gerald McCoy (54.5) for fourth. He may not get there this year, but getting halfway (or more than halfway) there could give him a chance to pass McCoy in 2024. That would likely be the ceiling, though, as Simeon Rice (69.5) is likely unreachable in his No. 3 spot on the list.

Barrett is one forced fumble away from tying Hardy Nickerson (13) for sixth-most in Bucs history.

Lavonte David

Sunday will be David’s 168th game played, leaving him 15 behind Paul Gruber (183) for fourth-most in franchise history. It will also be the legendary linebacker’s 168th career start, putting him 15 away from tying Gruber (183) for third-most in team history.

David is 4.5 sacks away from passing Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33) for eighth-most in franchise history. He also needs five passes defensed to tie Donnie Abraham (64) for fifth-most in team history.

Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jamel Dean

Dean needs just one pass defensed against the Bears to tie John Lynch (42) for eighth-most in franchise history.

Christian Izien

With another interception on Sunday, Izien would become just the fourth undrafted player in NFL history with an interception in his first two games. He’d be the first player to accomplish the feat since 2013.

Bucs Team

The Bucs are looking for their third straight 2-0 start, while a win would improve them to 21-27 all-time in home openers. Prior to losing its home opener to Green Bay last year, Tampa Bay had won back-to-back home debuts (2020 vs. Panthers, 2021 vs. Cowboys).