After last week’s momentum-stopping loss to the Cowboys in primetime, the 8-7 Bucs need to quickly get back on track when they return home to Raymond James Stadium to host the 4-11 Panthers this Sunday. Tampa Bay’s NFC South title and playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and the only thing that Todd Bowles and his team can control on their own is to win out over the final two weeks to give themselves a shot.

If the Bucs beat the Panthers on Sunday afternoon, they’ll be 9-7 and still alive in the division title race. A win would put some pressure on the NFC South-leading Falcons heading into their Sunday Night Football clash on the road against the Commanders. As far as Tampa Bay is concerned, a win over Carolina and a Washington win over Atlanta would be a perfect final Sunday of the 2024 calendar year. Because in that case, the Bucs would have a win-and-in scenario in Week 18 with control of their own destiny back in their hands.

Now, a win is the most important thing for Bowles and Co., as regardless of Sunday night’s result between the Falcons and Commanders, they’d still be alive in the playoff hunt. While a Washington win would return control back to Tampa Bay in the NFC South with one week to play, either the division and a wild card spot would be in play in Week 18 as long as the Bucs beat the Panthers. Because then, with a Falcons win over the Commanders, the following scenarios would be set up for the Bucs on the season’s final weekend:

• TB wins vs. NO, ATL loses vs. CAR = TB wins NFC South
• TB wins vs. NO, WAS loses at DAL = TB wins the final NFC Wild Card spot

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

As usual, there are other storylines to follow in this Week 17 game at Ray Jay, and that’s the reason we’re here right now. As we do every week here on PewterReport.com, it’s now time to take a look at what else is on the line during this week’s game. Of course, we’re talking about some of the records and milestones that some Bucs are moving toward.

Last week, Bucky Irving tied Errict Rhett and Lars Tate for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a rookie running back in team history (7), while Mike Evans surpassed Shannon Sharpe for the 37th-most receptions in NFL history. Rachaad White also passed Charles Sims for the sixth-most receiving yards by a running back in franchise history, and Will Gholston played his 184th game with the Bucs, passing Paul Gruber for the fifth-most in team history.

Here’s where everything stands heading into Week 17:

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is 47 passing yards away from moving ahead of Josh Freeman (4,065 in 2012) and Jameis Winston (4,090 in 2016) for the fifth-most single-season passing yards in Bucs history.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

With one more rushing touchdown, Mayfield can tie Doug Williams (4 in 1980, 4 in 1981) and Josh Freeman (4 in 2011) for the fourth-most single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in team history.

If Mayfield throws for three touchdowns on Sunday, he’ll tie Tom Brady (8 in 2021) for the most games with 3+ passing touchdowns by a Buccaneer quarterback in a single season. Those three touchdown passes would also move Mayfield ahead of Brad Johnson (64) for the seventh-most in franchise history.

With six more passing touchdowns over the next two weeks, Mayfield will tie Tom Brady (40 in 2020) for the second-most single-season passing touchdowns in team history.

Mike Evans

Evans is one reception away from passing Steve Largent (819) for 36th-most in NFL history. With three receptions, Evans will have 60+ for an 11th straight season. That’s the longest such streak to begin a career, and it would tie Jerry Rice, Derrick Mason and Travis Kelce for the longest streak in NFL history.

With nine receptions, Evans will move ahead of Larry Centers (827) for 35th-most in league history.

Evans needs one total touchdown to tie — and two to pass — Tim Brown and Don Hutson (105) for 21st-most total touchdowns in league history.

With 182 more receiving yards, Evans will reach 1,000 for the 11th consecutive season. That would extend his NFL-record streak to begin a career and tie Jerry Rice for the longest 1,000-yard receiving season streak in league history.

Sunday will be Evans’ 167th game with the Bucs, leaving him 17 away from passing Paul Gruber (183) for sixth-most in franchise history.

Rachaad White

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

White needs one touchdown of any kind to tie Leonard Fournette and Reggie Cobb (22) for the seventh-most touchdowns from scrimmage by a running back in team history.

With 28 scrimmage yards, White will reach 1,000 total yards for the second straight season. He would be the first Buccaneer running back to accomplish that feat in back-to-back seasons since Leonard Fournette (2021-2022).

Bucky Irving

Irving is one rushing touchdown away from passing Errict Rhett and Lars Tate (7) for second-most by a rookie running back in Bucs history. He would then trail only Doug Martin (11 in 2012).

With 20 scrimmage yards, Irving will pass Cadillac Williams (1,259 in 2005) for third-most by a Bucs rookie running back.

Irving is 59 rushing yards away from passing Warrick Dunn (978 in 1997) for fifth-most by a Tampa Bay rookie running back.

And with 80 more rushing yards, Irving will become the first Buc to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since Doug Martin in 2015. He’d also be the first rookie to do it since Martin did so in 2012.

Will Gholston

Gholston is set to play his 185th game with Tampa Bay, leaving him six away from passing Dave Moore (190) for the fourth-most in team history.

Vita Vea

Bucs NT Vita Vea and LB Lavonte David – Photo by: USA Today

Vea is 4.0 sacks away from passing Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0) for ninth-most in team history.

Lavonte David

David will play his 197th game as a Buc on Sunday, which is the third-most in franchise history. He trails only Derrick Brooks (224) and Ronde Barber (241)

With a half-sack, David will pass David Logan (39.0) for sixth-most in Buccaneer history.

David is five passes defensed away from moving ahead of Carlton Davis III (73) for fourth-most in team history.

Shaq Barrett

Barrett rejoins the Bucs as the franchise’s fourth-leading sacker all time with 45.0. He doesn’t exactly have the time to get to third with only two games left in the season, but he is 10 away from passing Gerald McCoy (54.5) for third-most in team history.

Jamel Dean

Dean is four passes defensed away from passing Aqib Talib (54) for seventh-most in franchise history.