The 7-5 Bucs control their destiny on the path toward a fifth straight NFC South title and a sixth consecutive playoff appearance, with the simplest scenario requiring wins in their next three games in order to clinch. All three games come against divisional opponents, and the stretch begins Sunday afternoon when Tampa Bay hosts the 2-10 New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium.

With a win over the Saints on Sunday and a victory over the Falcons at home on Thursday Night Football in Week 15, the Bucs will have a chance to clinch the division title when they head to Charlotte to face the upstart Panthers in Week 16.

First things first, though. Tampa Bay can’t look ahead to that Carolina game, nor can it get caught looking ahead to its short week and the creamsicle game against Atlanta in primetime on Thursday night. The Bucs need to take care of business against the struggling Saints and secure both an eighth win this season and a third sweep of New Orleans in four seasons under Todd Bowles.

As usual, there will be other storylines to follow for Tampa Bay as it opens up a crucial December slate, 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 key Bucs are moving toward.

Last week, Vita Vea surpassed Brad Culpepper and Jason Pierre-Paul for sole possession of the ninth-most sacks in franchise history, while Tristan Wirfs became the fifth offensive lineman in team history to record a touchdown reception, joining Leonard Wester, Donald Penn, Randall McDaniel and Ron Heller.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bucky Irving also made some history in his return to action, becoming just the third player in Buccaneer history to reach 2,000 scrimmage yards within their first 25 career games, joining Warrick Dunn and Doug Martin. Irving also joined Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor as the only running backs drafted since 2018 to reach 2,000 career scrimmage yards in their first 22 career games.

Now, let’s see what’s on the line in this Sunday’s game against the Saints at Ray Jay:

Bucs Record Watch: Week 14 vs. Saints

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield needs one more win to reach 27 as the Bucs’ starting quarterback, which would move him ahead of Brad Johnson (26) for sole possession of the fifth-most in team history.

With his next 300-yard passing game, Mayfield will move ahead of Doug Williams (10) for the fourth-most in franchise history.

With 27 completions, Mayfield will pass Brad Johnson (1,040) for the sixth-most in team history.

Mayfield is 21 passing touchdowns away from passing Tom Brady (108) for the second-most among Buccaneer quarterbacks all-time.

Rachaad White

White needs one more touchdown to pass Errict Rhett (25) for the fifth-most touchdowns from scrimmage by a running back in team history.

White is also two receiving touchdowns away from tying Mike Alstott (13) for the most by a running back/fullback in franchise history.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

With 93 more scrimmage yards, White will reach 4,000 in his career, becoming just the 13th Buc to reach that mark.

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka is four receptions away from passing Lawrence Dawsey (55 in 1991) for the fifth-most by a rookie in Bucs history.

With one more receiving touchdown, Egbuka will pass O.J. Howard (6 in 2017) for the fifth-most by a rookie in team history and tie Michael Clayton (7 in 2004) for the fourth-most.

Two more receiving touchdowns will tie Egbuka with Jalen McMillan (8 in 2024) for the third-most by a Buccaneer rookie in team history.

Egbuka is 28 receiving yards away from moving ahead of Lawrence Dawsey (818 in 1991) for the fourth-most by a rookie in franchise history.

And finally, with 209 receiving yards over the the final five games, Egbuka can become the third Buc ever to reach 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie, joining Michael Clayton (1,193 in 2004) and Mike Evans (1,051).

Chris Godwin Jr.

Godwin needs six more touchdowns to pass James Wilder (46) for the third-most touchdowns from scrimmage in Bucs history.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin and Saints NCB Alontae Taylor – Photo by: USA Today

With 218 more scrimmage yards, Godwin will pass Warrick Dunn (7,690) for the third-most in franchise history.

Sunday will be Godwin’s 116th game as a Buc, giving him sole possession of the 25th-most in team history and leaving him two behind Randy Grimes (118) for 24th-most.

Tez Johnson

Johnson needs three more receiving touchdowns to tie Marques Colston (8 in 2006) for the most by a seventh-round rookie in NFL history.

Cade Otton

With one more receiving touchdown, Otton will pass Ron Hall (10) for the ninth-most by a tight end in team history and tie Calvin Magee and Alex Smith (11) for the seventh-most.

Vita Vea

Vea is one sack away from passing Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) for the eighth-most in franchise history.

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

Vea is set to play his 108th game as a Buc on Sunday, which will tie him with Andrew Economos for the 35th-most in team history.

Anthony Nelson

Sunday will be Nelson’s 105th game with Tampa Bay, tying him with Jeff Gooch and Ricky Reynolds for the 38th-most in Bucs history.

Lavonte David

David needs one more tackle for loss to pass Aaron Donald (176) for the third-most since TruMedia data is available dating back to 2008.

With one more takeaway, David will reach 35 for his career, which would put him in a group with Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher as the only players since at least 1982 with 40+ sacks and 35+ takeaways.

One more interception will join David with Ray Lewis, Charles Woodson and Brian Dawkins as the only players since 1994 with 15+ interceptions, 15+ forced fumbles and 15+ fumble recoveries in their careers. He would be just the 17th player in NFL history to reach those marks, joining those three players as well as Mike Merriweather, Steve Nelson, Carnell Lake, Reggie Williams, Joey Browner, Rod Woodson, Wes Hopkins, Bill Romanowski, Cris Dishman, Dennis Smith, Ronnie Lott, Wilber Marshall and Nesby Glasgow.

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

David needs five more sacks to pass former teammate Shaq Barrett (45.0) for the fifth-most in team history.

David is also two passes defensed away from passing another former teammate, Carlton Davis III (73) for the fourth-most in franchise history.

Sunday will be David’s 211th game, leaving him 13 behind Derrick Brooks (224) for the second-most in franchise history. It’ll also be his 211th start, leaving him 10 away from Brooks (221) for the second-most in Bucs history.

Jamel Dean

Dean needs six more passes defensed to pass Donnie Abraham (64) for the sixth-most in team history.

With one more interception, Dean will tie Dwight Smith, Jeris White and Mark Robinson (12) for the 13th-most in Buccaneer history. He is three behind Lavonte David (14) for the 12th-most.

Zyon McCollum

McCollum is three passes defensed away from passing Dwight Smith (34) for the 13th-most in team history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield is one sack away from breaking a tie with Adam Archuleta, Bill Bates and Roman Harper for the 11th-most by a defensive back since 1982.

With two more strip sacks, Winfield can pass Quintin Mikell for the most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

One more forced fumble for Winfield would tie him with Jairus Byrd, Cedric Griffin, Chris Harris, Sammy Knight, Michael Lewis, Troy Polamalu and his father, Antoine Winfield Sr. (13), for the 16th-most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

That next forced fumble would also push Winfield into a tie with Hardy Nickerson (13) for the seventh-most in Bucs history.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara and Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: USA Today

Winfield needs one more fumble recovery to pass Lee Roy Selmon (10) for the fourth-most in team history and tie him with Cecil Johnson and John Cannon (11) for the third-most.

Winfield needs two more passes defensed to pass new Bucs Ring of Honor inductee Simeon Rice (37) for the 11th-most in franchise history.

Winfield is also 10.5 sacks away from passing Ronde Barber (28.0) for the most by a defensive back in team history and the second-most by a defensive back in NFL history.

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin needs four more field goals to pass Ryan Succop (84) for the sixth-most in team history.