After a tough stretch out of the bye week, it looked like the schedule was set up perfectly for the Bucs to cruise to yet another NFC South title — their fifth straight — and a sixth straight playoff appearance. Things started out according to plan when they beat the Cardinals, 20-17, in Week 13.

Then came Week 14.

Tampa Bay slipped up tripped over its own feet, fell on its face, got up, tripped on its own feet again and then didn’t even get all the way up the next time before falling flat on its face again. The Bucs, as eight-point favorites, lost at home to the 2-10 Saints, falling to 7-6 and dropping into a first-place tie with the Panthers.

Now, four days later, the Bucs have to pick themselves up and find a way to exorcise some demons if they’re going to get back on track ahead of next Sunday’s showdown with the Panthers in Charlotte. The Falcons come to town for a primetime game (scary), the Bucs are breaking out their creamsicle uniforms (also scary) and it’s 37-year-old Kirk Cousins who will be leading the Atlanta offense against Todd Bowles’ Tampa Bay defense (also also scary).

The odds seem stacked against the Bucs given all of those factors, even if they do come in as favorites over the 4-9, already-eliminated-from-playoff-contention Falcons.

So, there’s a lot at stake for Tampa Bay in this one. The team still controls its own destiny, but that could change with a loss on Thursday night.

As usual, there will be other storylines to follow for Tampa Bay in primetime, 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 passed Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) for the eighth-most sacks in franchise history.

Now, let’s see where things stand heading into Week 15.

Bucs Record Watch: Week 15 vs. Falcons

Bucs assistant GMs Rob McCartney and Mike Greenberg and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jason Licht

Entering Week 15, Bucs general manager Jason Licht is two wins away from his 100th between the regular season and playoffs. Unsurprisingly, he would become the first general manager in franchise history to reach that milestone.

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield needs one more win to pass Brad Johnson (26) for the fifth-most by a Buccaneer quarterback. That would also leave him one behind Jameis Winston (28) for the fourth-most.

With 13 more completions, Mayfield will also pass Brad Johnson (1,040) for the sixth-most in team history.

Mayfield is 20 passing touchdowns away from passing Tom Brady (108) for the second-most in Bucs history.

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.

With two more receiving touchdowns, White will tie Mike Alstott (13) for the most by a running back/fullback in Buccaneer history.

White is now 38 scrimmage yards away from 4,000 in his career. When he gets there, he’ll be just the 13th player in franchise history to reach that mark with the team.

Mike Evans

After he was activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, Evans appears ready to make his return to action for the first time since Week 7. He enters this game 223 receiving yards away from passing Jason Witten (13,046) for the 21st-most in NFL history.

Evans also needs only two more receptions to pass Irving Fryar (851) for the 33rd-most in league history. With 11 more receptions, No. 13 will pass Muhsin Muhammad (860) for the 32nd-most all-time, and 13 more will move him ahead of Jimmy Smith (862) for 31st.

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Thursday will be Evans’ 173rd game with the Bucs, leaving him 10 away from tying Paul Gruber (183) for the sixth-most in franchise history. It’ll also be his 172nd start, which leaves him 11 from tying Gruber (183) for the fourth-most in team history.

Chris Godwin Jr.

Godwin is six touchdowns away from passing James Wilder (46) for the third-most touchdowns from scrimmage in franchise history.

With 163 more scrimmage yards, Godwin will pass Warrick Dunn (7,690) for the third-most in team history.

Godwin needs five more receptions to reach 600 in his career, which would join him up with Mike Evans as the only players in Bucs history to reach that mark with the team. He is also 40 receiving yards away from 7,500 in his career, and that would also have him join Evans as the only two players ever to reach that mark with Tampa Bay.

Thursday will be Godwin’s 117th game as a Buc, which means he needs one more to tie Randy Grimes (118) for the 24th-most in franchise history.

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka needs two more receptions to pass 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 would tie him with Jalen McMillan (8 in 2024) for the third-most.

Bucs WRs Tez Johnson and Emeka Egbuka – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With 13 more receiving yards, Egbuka will pass Lawrence Dawsey (818 in 1991) for the fourth-most by a Buccaneer rookie in franchise history. He also needs 194 more yards over the final four games to reach 1,000 as a rookie. He would be only the third rookie receiver in team history to reach that mark, joining Mike Evans and Michael Clayton.

Tez Johnson

Johnson is three receiving touchdowns away from tying Marques Colston (8 in 2006) for the most by a rookie drafted in the seventh round in NFL history.

Cade Otton

Otton is doubtful to play in Thursday night’s game, but if he can play, he still needs one more receiving touchdown to pass Ron Hall (10) for the ninth-most by a tight end in franchise history and tie Calvin Magee and Alex Smith (11) for the seventh-most.

Vita Vea

After passing Chidi Ahanotu for the eighth-most sacks in Bucs history last week, Vea now needs 4.5 sacks to pass David Logan (39.0) for the seventh-most all-time.

Thursday night will be Vea’s 109th game with Tampa Bay, tying him with George Yarno for the 34th-most in team history.

Anthony Nelson

Nelson is set for his 106th game as a Buc, moving him ahead of Jeff Gooch and Ricky Reynolds (105) for the 38th-most in franchise history.

Lavonte David

David is one tackle for loss away from passing Aaron Donald (176) for the third-most since TruMedia Data is available dating back to 2008.

With one more takeaway, David will hit 35 for his career. That would have him in a group with Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher as the only players since at least 1982 with 40+ sacks and 35+ takeaways.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and former Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: USA Today

David still needs one more interception to join more rare company in NFL history, as he would join 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 only be the 17th player overall to reach those marks, also joining 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.

With five more sacks, David will pass former teammate Shaq Barrett (45.0) for the fifth-most in franchise history.

David needs two more passes defensed to pass another former teammate, Carlton Davis III (73), for the fourth-most in team history.

Thursday night will be David’s 212th game as a Buc, which will have him 12 behind Derrick Brooks (224) for the second-most in team history. It’s also set to be his 212th start, leaving him nine behind Brooks (221) for the second-most in Buccaneer history.

Jamel Dean

Dean is still six passes defensed away from passing 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 franchise history. That would leave him two behind Lavonte David (14) for the 12th-most.

Zyon McCollum

McCollum is two passes defensed away from passing Dwight Smith (34) for the 13th-m0st in team history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield’s next sack will break 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 will tie Quintin Mikell for the most by a defensive back since at least 2000.

Winfield also needs only one more forced fumble to tie 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.

Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Winfield’s next forced fumble will also move him ahead of Lee Roy Selmon (10) for the fourth-most in franchise history and tie him with Cecil Johnson and John Cannon (11) for the third-most.

One more pass defensed will move Winfield ahead of Simeon Rice (37) for the 11th-most in team history.

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

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin is two field goals away from passing Ryan Succop (84) for the sixth-most in Buccaneer history.

And with 24 more points, McLaughlin will pass Succop (384) for the eighth-most in team history.