The Bucs, above all else, need to win Sunday’s game against the Vikings at Raymond James Stadium. This team is off to an 0-2 start and is staring 0-3 in the face with a 2-0 Minnesota squad coming in looking to stay undefeated and create a wider gap for itself in the NFC North. As early as it is and as crazy as it sounds, this is do-or-die for Todd Bowles and Co.

Despite losing its season opener, Tampa Bay could take something away from a six-point defeat on the road against an expected playoff team like Cincinnati, especially since it was a six-point loss despite the fact that the offense turned the ball over four times. But losing at home to Cleveland after holding a 10-point lead in the second half — and having the ball at the 28-yard line with two minutes go go — has left a lot of people without hope for this team. Falling to 0-3 with another home loss would feel like something genuinely impossible to come back from.

So, all of that is said to make the point that as usual, the win comes first. Nothing else really matters. But there will be plenty else to follow for Tampa Bay in this one, and that’s the reason we’re here right now. Like we do every week here on PewterReport.com, we’re here to dive into the records and milestones that some key Bucs are chasing in the upcoming game.

Last week, Yaya Diaby became 1 of 11 players since 2023 to record 40+ QB hits and 40+ tackles for loss, Baker Mayfield passed Josh Freeman (1,144) for the third-most completions in Bucs history and Chase McLaughlin passed Donald Igwebuike (94) for the fifth-most in team history.

Now, let’s see where things stand heading into Week 3.

Bucs Record Watch: Week 3 vs. Vikings

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Baker Mayfield

Mayfield is still searching for his first game this season with multiple touchdown passes. If he gets it Sunday against the Vikings, he’ll tie Tom Brady (31) for the second-most games in Bucs history with multiple passing scores.

Mayfield is also two passing touchdowns away from hitting 200 in his regular season career.

With a win over Minnesota, Mayfield will tie Jameis Winston (28) for the fourth-most wins by a Tampa Bay starting quarterback.

A 250-yard passing game would tie Mayfield with Josh Freeman (23) for the third-most 250-yard games in Buccaneer history. Along those same lines, a 300-yard passing game would tie him with Vinny Testaverde (12) for the third-most 300-yard passing games in team history.

If Mayfield finishes with a passer rating of 90.0+ in Sunday’s game, he’ll tie Jameis Winston (34) for the most such games in franchise history.

Mayfield needs 14 passing yards to pass Doug Williams (12,648) for the sixth-most in team history and 335 to pass Trent Dilfer (12,969) for the fifth-most.

Chris Godwin Jr.

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

Nine more points scored will also push Godwin ahead of Wilder (276) for the 10th-most in franchise history.

Sunday will be Godwin’s 123rd game with Tampa Bay, tying him with Gerald McCoy for the 19th-most in team history.

Cade Otton

Otton is still one receiving touchdown away from passing Calvin Magee and Alex Smith (11) for the seventh-most by a tight end in team history. He would also pull into a tie for the sixth-most with that next touchdown.

Bucs TE Cade Otton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Otton is also four receptions away from having the third-most by a tight end in franchise history.

Vita Vea

Vea is off to a slow start this year, so he remains 4.5 sacks away from passing David Logan (39.0) for the seventh-most in Bucs history.

Sunday will be Vea’s 115th game as a Buc, tying Karl “The Truth” Williams for the 26th-most in franchise history.

Anthony Nelson

Nelson is set for his 110th game as a Buccaneer, tying David Logan and Rob Taylor for the 33rd-most in team history.

Zyon McCollum

McCollum remains three passes defensed away from moving ahead of Simeon Rice (37) for the 12th-most in team history. He would tie teammate Antoine Winfield Jr., who enters Week 3 with 38 career passes defensed, which is good for 11th-most in team history.

Antoine Winfield Jr.

Winfield needs 10.5 more sacks to pass Ronde Barber (28.0) for the most by a defensive back in Bucs history and the second-most by any defensive back in NFL history.

With one more forced fumble, Winfield can tie David Logan and Broderick Thomas (13) for the ninth-most in team history.

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

Another fumble recovery would move Winfield ahead of Lee Roy Selmon (10) for the fourth-most ever by a Buccaneer defender and tie him with Cecil Johnson and John Cannon (11) for the third-most.

Winfield needs one interception to reach 10 for his career. He would become the 16th defensive back in NFL history (since sacks became an official stat in 1982, at least) to record 500+ tackles, 15+ sacks and 10+ interceptions. He would join Bill Bates, Dave Duerson, Rodney Harrison, Derwin James Jr. and Adrian Wilson as the only defensive backs to accomplish that feat in their first seven seasons in the league.

Winfield heads into Week 3 four passes defensed away from passing Brent Grimes (41) for the 10th-most in franchise history.

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin needs two more field goals to pass Matt Bryant (98) for the fourth-most in team history.

With three more points scored, McLaughlin will also pass Bryant and Donald Igwebuike (416) for the fourth-most by a kicker and sixth-most overall in Bucs history.

Bucs GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Todd Bowles

Bowles is still one win away from passing his predecessor, Bruce Arians (36), for the fourth-most wins all-time among Tampa Bay head coaches (regular season + playoffs).

Jason Licht

Licht’s is also still searching for his 100th victory as the team’s general manager (including the playoffs). He would become the first general manager in Bucs history to reach the 100-win mark.