Week 6 is gearing up to be quite the occasion for the 3-1 Bucs, who will be wearing their creamsicle uniforms and Bucco Bruce helmets as they host the 4-1 Lions for a 4:25 p.m. kickoff. Raymond James Stadium is bound to be clad in orange, red and white as Tampa Bay looks for a statement win against a Detroit team that has been one of the hottest in football over the last year or so.

This game could end up having playoff implications, as these two teams could be jockeying for positioning if they win their respective divisions. While it’s still very early, the Eagles and 49ers look destined to be locks for the top two seeds in the NFC, which would leave the Bucs and Lions battling for the No. 3 seed. Heading into Sunday’s game, Detroit holds the No. 3 seed while Tampa Bay sits in the No. 4 spot.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

A win for Todd Bowles and his team would be about more than potential playoff implications down the line. It would give them some serious belief to build off of as they continue to prove the football world wrong after an offseason full of being picked to finish near the bottom of the league and in position for a top-five pick.

The Bucs have been a nice story so far, but none of their wins will be looked at as overly impressive. A victory over the Lions, though? That would go a long way for the perception of this 2023 Tampa Bay squad.

Beyond what this game means for the NFC playoff picture and the Bucs’ outlook on the season, there are some individuals looking to chase down history this week and others continuing to work their way toward some records. Back in Week 4, Mike Evans moved ahead of Warren Sapp for 11th-most games played in franchise history and Tampa Bay reached its longest-ever winning streak against New Orleans (three games).

So, what’s on the line in Week 6? Let’s get into it.

Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Evans had the bye week to nurse the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 4 and is a full go to play against the Lions. He needs one receiving touchdown to tie Lance Alworth, Hines Ward and Paul Warfield (85) for 18th-most in NFL history. Two more would tie him with Jimmy Graham (86) for 17th-most, while three scores would tie him with Andre Reed (87) for 16th.

Sunday will mark Evans’ 142nd game as a Buccaneer, leaving him six behind Shelton Quarles (148) for 10th-most in Bucs history.

Evans is still 75 points away from breaking Martin Gramatica’s franchise record for career points scored (592).

Chris Godwin

Godwin hasn’t scored a touchdown since Dec. 18 last year, but his next receiving score will tie him with Cameron Brate (33) for third-most in team history. Two more receiving touchdowns will tie him with Jimmie Giles (34) for second-most.

Because he has 32 receiving touchdowns and one rushing score, Godwin’s next touchdown of any kind will tie him with Jimmie Giles (34) for fourth-most touchdowns from scrimmage in franchise history.

Another 100-yard game against Detroit would make Godwin the first Buc to post consecutive 100-yard receiving games since Rob Gronkowski did in in Weeks 17 and 18 of the 2021 season.

Vita Vea

Bucs NT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea notched two sacks in the Bucs’ Week 4 win over the Saints, which means two more against the Lions would make him the first Tampa Bay player with consecutive double-digit-sack games since 2019. Jason Pierre-Paul (Weeks 11-13) was the last to do it, while Shaq Barrett (Weeks 2-3) also did it that year.

Will Gholston

Gholston is set to play his 158th game with the Bucs on Sunday, which will tie him with Mike Alstott for 8th-most in team history.

Shaq Barrett

Barrett is 14 sacks away from passing Gerald McCoy (54.5) for fourth-most in franchise history. Meanwhile, he is one forced fumble away from tying Hardy Nickerson (13) for sixth-most of any Buc ever.

Lavonte David

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo By: Cliff Welch P/R

David is the only Buccaneer who has previously suited up in the creamsicle uniforms, doing so as a rookie back in the team’s 2012 throwback game. Sunday will be his 171st game with Tampa Bay, leaving him 12 behind Paul Gruber (183) for fourth-most in franchise history. It will also be his 171st start, which will leave him 12 behind Gruber (183) for third-most in team history.

With 3.5 more sacks, David will pass Brad Culpepper (33) for eighth-most in Tampa Bay history. He is also just five passes defensed behind Donnie Abraham (64) for fifth-most of any Buc.

Carlton Davis

Davis needs 19 more passes defensed to pass Derrick Brooks (84) for third-most in franchise history.

Jamel Dean

When Dean returns to the field against Detroit, he’ll have a chance to tie John Lynch (42) for eighth-most passes defensed in team history. Currently tied with Brent Grimes (41) for ninth-most, the 2019 third-round pick needs just one more to do so.

Dee Delaney

Bucs CB Dee Delaney – Photo by: USA Today

Delaney has interceptions in the last two Bucs games, intercepting Jalen Hurts in Week 3 and Jameis Winston in Week 4. With an interception on Sunday, he can become the first Buc with interceptions in three consecutive regular season games since Lavonte David did it from Weeks 11-13 in 2013. Of course, Sean Murphy-Bunting came up with interceptions in three straight games during Tampa Bay’s run to Super Bowl LV a few years ago.

Bucs

The Bucs’ 3-1 start to this season marks the 11th time in their history that they’ve won three of their first four games. A win over the Lions would give them just their sixth 4-1 start ever, with the others coming in 2021, 2005, 2002, 1997 and 1979. Tampa Bay made the playoffs in each of those years and won the division in four of them.