After closing out the 2024 calendar year with a 48-14 win over the Panthers last Sunday, the 9-7 Bucs will look to ring in 2025 the right way this Sunday when they host the 5-11 Saints at Raymond James Stadium.

With a win over the Saints in their regular season finale, the Bucs will finish 10-7 and clinch a fifth straight playoff appearance, as well as a fourth consecutive NFC South title. And if the Rams lose to the Seahawks on Sunday, the Bucs will also clinch the No. 3 seed in the NFC. In either case, a win over New Orleans means another game at Raymond James Stadium during Super Wild Card Weekend.

There’s so much at stake in this one for the Bucs, as a win means playoffs and a loss could be consequential for head coach Todd Bowles. But with their fate back in their own hands, the scenario is simple: win and you’re in.

As usual, there are other storylines to follow in this regular season finale 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 became the Bucs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Doug Martin in 2015, Mike Evans secured an 11th straight season with 65+ catches and Baker Mayfield tied Tom Brady’s Bucs record for most 3+ passing touchdown games in a single season.

Here’s where things stand heading into Week 18:

Bucs Team Records

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

A win would clinch the Bucs’ seventh-ever NFC South title and fourth straight. They would tie the Saints for the most NFC South titles in addition to tying New Orleans for the longest streak in the history of the NFC South.

A win would also clinch the Bucs’ fifth straight playoff berth, which is the longest streak in team history. A fifth consecutive playoff appearance would also maintain their NFC-best streak and make them one of three teams to reach the postseason in each of the last five seasons, joining the Chiefs and Bills.

Including the regular season and playoffs, this the 800th game in Buccaneer history.

With one sack, the 2024 Bucs will tie the 2004 and 2022 Bucs (45.0) for sixth-most in a single season in team history. With 3.0 sacks, they’ll tie the 2019 and 2021 Bucs (47.0) for fourth-most, while 4.0 sacks would tie the 2020 and 2023 Bucs (48.0) for second-most.

Tampa Bay needs 18 points to pass the 2020 team (492) for second-most in a single season in franchise history. With 37 points, they’ll break the franchise record that was set by the 2021 team (511).

With 251 total yards, these Bucs will pass the 2018 Bucs (6,648) for second-most in a single season in team history. They need 504 total yards to break the single-season franchise record, which also belongs to the 2021 team (6,901).

With 81 rushing yards, Tampa Bay will pass the 1979 team (2,437) for the most in a single season in franchise history.

Three total touchdowns would tie this year’s team with the 2020 team (59) for the second-most in team history. Seven total touchdowns would tie the 2021 team for the single-season franchise record (63).

Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield needs three passing touchdowns to set a new franchise record for most 3+ passing touchdown games in a single season.

With two passing touchdowns, Mayfield will pass Tom Brady (40 in 2020) for the second-most in a single season in team history. He needs four passing touchdowns to tie — and five to pass — Brady (43 in 2021) for the single-season franchise record.

Four passing touchdowns would also move Mayfield ahead of Trent Dilfer (70) for sixth-most in franchise history.

Mayfield needs three total touchdowns to tie — and four to pass — Brady (45 in 2021) for the single-season team record.

Mayfield is 355 passing yards away from moving ahead of Brady (4,633 in 2020) for fourth-most in a single season in team history. With 416 yards, he’ll pass Brady (4,694 in 2022) for third-most.

With a 300-yard passing day, Mayfield will tie Brady (7 in 2020) for the third-most 300+ yard passing games in a single season in team history.

Mayfield needs one rushing touchdown to 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 Buccaneer quarterback.

And with 221 passing yards and one passing touchdown, Mayfield can join an elite class of quarterbacks who have thrown for 4,500+ yards and 40+ touchdowns in a single season. The others in that class? Tom Brady (three times), Drew Brees (twice), Peyton Manning (twice), Dan Marino (twice), Matthew Stafford (twice), Patrick Mahomes (twice), Joe Burrow, Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Evans is 85 yards away from his 11th straight 1,000-yard receiving season. If he gets there, he’ll tie Jerry Rice for the longest streak in NFL history, plus he’ll break a tie with Randy Moss (10) for the second-most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in league history (10). Rice (14) has the NFL record.

Evans is 127 yards away from passing Art Monk (12,721) for 23rd-most in NFL history.

With one more reception, Evans will pass Larry Centers (827) for 35th-most in league history.

Evans is one receiving touchdown away from tying himself (12 in 2014 and 2016) for fourth-most in a single season in franchise history. He needs two receiving touchdowns to tie himself (13 in 2020 and 2023) for second-most, while three would tie his own single-season franchise record (14 in 2021).

With three total touchdowns, Evans can tie Barry Sanders (109) and Derrick Henry (109, but active) for 19th-most in league history.

Sunday will be Evans’ 168th game, leaving him 16 away from passing Paul Gruber (183) for sixth-most in team history.

Jalen McMillan

McMillan needs one receiving touchdown to break a tie with Michael Clayton (7 in 2004) for third-most by a Bucs rookie — trailing only Mike Evans (12 in 2014) and Mike Williams (11 in 2010).

With a receiving touchdown against the Saints, McMillan will tie Mark Andrews (5) for the second-longest streak of games with a receiving touchdown this season. It would also mark the longest streak by a rookie since 2004 and tie Lee Evans (5 games in 2004) and Chris Sanders (5 in 1995) for the second-longest streak by a rookie in NFL history — trailing only Randy Moss (7 games in 1998).

Cade Otton

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: USA Today

Otton is four receptions away from passing Jackie Harris (62 in 1995) for fourth-most single-season receptions by a tight end in team history. With eight receptions, Otton can pass Kellen Winslow (66 in 2010) for third-most.

With four receiving yards, Otton will pass Rob Gronkowski (1,425) for eighth-most by a tight end in franchise history.

Rachaad White

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

With one touchdown, White will set a new career high for touchdowns from scrimmage in a season and secure his first 10-touchdown season.

Bucky Irving

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

With 11 more scrimmage yards, Irving will pass Warrick Dunn (1,440 in 1997) for second-most by a rookie in Bucs history. He would then only trail Doug Martin (1,926 in 2012).

With 146 rushing yards, Irving will pass Cadillac Williams (1,178 in 2005) for second-most by a Buccaneer rookie. He would also finish with the seventh-most rushing yards in a single season in team history.

Will Gholston

Gholston is set to play his 186th game with the Bucs, leaving him five away from passing Dave Moore (190) for fourth-most in franchise history.

Vita Vea

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Vea needs 4.0 more sacks to pass Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0) for ninth-most in team history. He is only a half-sack away from matching his single-season career high (6.5).

With one quarterback hit, Vea can match his single-season career high (13). He also needs only four tackles to match his career high (43) and only two solo tackles to match his career best (28).

Vea, a Pro Bowler for the second time, will be looking to finish the regular season in a big way.

Shaq Barrett

Already the franchise’s fourth-leading sacker all time with 45.0, Barrett will look to cut into the deficit between him and third place, which belongs to Gerald McCoy (54.5).

Lavonte David

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

David is set to play his 198th game, which is the third-most in franchise history. He trails only Derrick Brooks (224) and Ronde Barber (241).

With 1.5 sacks, David can match his career high (7.0 in 2013). He is also only a half-sack away from passing David Logan (39.0) for sixth-most in team history.

David needs five more passes defensed to pass Carlton Davis III (73) for fourth-most in team history.

Jamel Dean

Dean is now only three passes defensed away from passing Aqib Talib (54) for seventh-most in Bucs history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

If Winfield can return to action, he has some history he’ll still be chasing. He needs one more sack to tie Adam Archuleta, Bill Bates and Roman Harper (18.0) for 11th-most by a defensive back since sacks became an official stat in 1982. He needs three more sacks to tie Charles Woodson (20.0) for 10th-most.