After falling flat on creamsicle day and losing to the Lions in Week 6, the Bucs had no time to waste in getting right back at it. That’s because, at 3-2, they have a half-game lead in the NFC South and their Week 7 contest against the Falcons at Raymond James Stadium will decide whether that becomes a 1.5-game lead or a half-game deficit.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay’s defense struggled on third downs a week ago, but it ultimately held a high-powered Detroit offense 10 points below its season average. The loss really fell on the offense, which couldn’t find the end zone nor could it convert third downs to keep drives alive. This week, Baker Mayfield and the offense need to get things right against a Falcons defense that doesn’t give up a lot of points but also doesn’t rack up all that many sacks or takeaways.

With the Saints losing to the Jaguars on Thursday night, the winner of Sunday afternoon’s game at Raymond James Stadium will be alone atop the NFC South through seven weeks of the season.

So, there’s plenty on the line this Sunday as the Bucs say goodbye to the creamsicles and return to their all-white look with their regular pewter helmet. But individually, there are always players on Tampa Bay’s roster who can continue climbing toward history. Last week, Will Gholston tied Mike Alstott for the eighth-most games played in franchise history (158) while Lavonte David got one sack closer to claiming eighth on the team’s all-time leaderboard.

Where do things stand heading into Week 7? Let’s have a look.

Mike Evans

Evans is still one receiving touchdown away from tying Lance Alworth, Hines Ward and Paul Warfield (85) for 18th-most in NFL history. He is two away from tying Jimmy Graham (86) for 17th in league history, while three more will pull him even with Andre Reed (87) for 16th.

Sunday will be Evans’ 143rd game with the Bucs, bringing him within five of tying Shelton Quarles (148) for 10th-most in franchise history.

Evans’ next touchdown will also inch him closer to Tampa Bay’s all-time points scored record, as he is still 75 behind Martin Gramatica (592).

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Chris Godwin

Godwin has 5,998 career receiving yards, which already ranks second all-time in team history. But with two more yards on Sunday, he’ll become the second player in Bucs history to reach the 6,000-yard receiving mark with the team.

Godwin is still searching for his first touchdown since Dec. 18 of last year, but his next receiving score will tie him with Cameron Brate (33) for third in team history. Two more will tie him with Jimmie Giles (34) for second.

Because Godwin has 32 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, he has 33 total touchdowns in his career. That leaves him one away from tying Giles (34) for the fourth-most touchdowns from scrimmage in franchise history.

Will Gholston

Sunday will be Gholston’s 159th game with the team, moving him ahead of Mike Alstott (158) for eighth-most games played in Bucs history. And at 159, the veteran defensive lineman will also be one game away from tying Tony Mayberry (160) for seventh in team history.

Bucs DT Calijah Kancey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Calijah Kancey

In his first full game at the NFL level last week, Kancey notched his first career sack. Against the Falcons, he has a chance to become the first Bucs rookie with a sack in consecutive games since Antoine Winfield Jr. did it in 2020.

Shaq Barrett

Barrett is no stranger to making history against the Falcons, as he broke the franchise’s single-season sack record against Atlanta on the final day of the 2019 regular season. The veteran pass rusher has just one sack on the year, meaning he needs 14 more to pass Gerald McCoy (54.5) for fourth-most in team history.

Barrett also remains one forced fumble away from tying Hardy Nickerson (13) for sixth-most of any Tampa Bay player ever.

Lavonte David

David will play his 172nd game as a Buc on Sunday, leaving him 11 behind Paul Gruber (183) for fourth-most in franchise history. It will also mark his 172nd start, which is 11 behind Gruber (183) for third-most in team history.

With a sack last week against the Lions, David needs just 2.5 more to pass Brad Culpepper (33.0) for eighth-most of any Buc.

David also had a pass defensed against Detroit last week, meaning he is now four away from tying Donnie Abraham (64) for fifth in team history. Five more will move him ahead of Abraham and have him fourth, just behind…

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Carlton Davis

With a pass defensed last week, Davis got one closer to third all-time in team history. However, he still needs 18 more to pass Derrick Brooks (84) for that third spot.

Jamel Dean

Dean still needs one more pass defensed to tie John Lynch (42) for eighth-most in Bucs history.