The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week Five at Lumen Field. Both clubs will be celebrating their 50th seasons, as both were members of the league's 1976 expansion and both will be donning throwback threads. This will mark the 16th all-time regular season meeting between the two franchises, and it will feature two former 2018 first-round picks including Baker Mayfield (first overall, Browns) and Sam Darnold (third overall, Jets). The game also pits two Ohio State receiver prodigies against one another in Emeka Egbuka and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The two 3-1 teams will go head-to-head in Seattle, looking to cement their place atop the NFC with a win. Following kickoff, here are five Buccaneers to observe:
Chris Godwin Jr.
In his first game back following his dislocated ankle injury in Week Seven of the 2024 season that required surgery, Chris Godwin Jr. tallied three receptions for 26 yards against the Eagles. As he continues to work off the rust and get back into rhythm with Baker Mayfield, Godwin's impact will rise. At the time of his injury last October, Godwin led the NFL with 50 receptions and 33 receiving first downs through seven games. Godwin was second in the league with 576 receiving yards and was tied for third with five touchdown receptions. The slot weapon and RAC-artist is adept on wheels, digs and out-breakers and has been a go-to target on third-downs throughout the duration of his career. Against the Seahawks, he will look to make his mark at Lumen Field.
Zyon McCollum
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the former Ohio State standout, produced a stellar 2024 campaign with 100 catches for 1,130 yards and has played an integral role in Seattle's offense in 2025, nabbing 26 catches for 402 yards and a touchdown through the first four weeks. He has accounted for the majority of Sam Darnold's targets and is a zone-buster. Smith-Njigba is focused at the catch point and has outstanding ball-tracking skills. He will go up against Buccaneers' Zyon McCollum on Sunday. Last season, McCollum led the Bucs' defense with 17 passes defensed and with the injuries to both Jamel Dean and Benjamin Morrison, he will be counted on in Week Five to limit Seattle's wideouts. McCollum matches releases and pairs hip fluidity with elite speed to disrupt catches from trail coverage. This will be a key battle on Sunday.
Lavonte David
In 2025, the Seahawks have had two or more tight ends on the field for 41.2% of their plays and have had their best yards-per-play (6.8) and best success rate (49%) out of that 12 grouping (1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE). Kubiak's system utilizes tight ends on blocks for their perimeter-based system with outside zone runs and run action to look like passing concepts. When the Seahawks stretch the field laterally, the Bucs' defense will have to limit plays in space and set the edge. Bucs' inside linebacker Lavonte David led Tampa Bay in Week Three with 11 tackles (one for loss), two quarterback hits, and a sack. He will set the tone on Sunday at Lumen Field and plays with exceptional diagnosis skills and play recognition. As one of the premier off-ball linebackers of the past decade, David will look to help the Bucs improve to 4-1 on the year.
Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield is currently tied for third in the NFL in passing touchdowns in 2025 with eight and since his arrival in 2023, he ranks first in that category. Mayfield was one-of-two quarterbacks with 4,500-plus yards, 40-plus touchdowns and a 100-plus passer rating in 2024. Through the first three weeks of the season, Mayfield guided the team to victories with late-game heroics and sensational improvisation skills. He rallies the team with his competitive disposition, poise under pressure, off-platform prowess and accuracy at all three levels. In the battle between two former first-round picks, Mayfield will look to gain the upper hand over Sam Darnold on the opposing sideline.
Ben Bredeson
With the return of Tristan Wirfs against the Eagles, Ben Bredeson flipped back from center to left guard. He has helped anchor the Bucs' makeshift line and has a powerful punch. Bredeson plays with a rugged mentality in the trenches and creates leverage in the run game. On Sunday, he will face Leonard Williams, who is tied with Byron Murphy II for the team lead in sacks with 2.5. Williams can hold the line as a two-gapper or charge upfield and collapse the pocket as a one-gapper. He pairs elite power with explosion off the snap with a low pad level. This will be a key matchup in the trenches in Week Five.
