The 7-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Miami in Week 17 to take on a 6-9 Dolphins team in a game the visitors need to win to stave off the potential of elimination from the playoff race. The game is scheduled for Sunday, December 28, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. This is the Buccaneers' final game of 2025 against an AFC opponent after going 2-2 in the previous four.
Here are some additional numbers to know about the state of the Buccaneers and their 17th game of the 2025 campaign:
3
The number of turnovers the Buccaneers committed in their three-point loss in Miami in Week 17, marking the first time all season they have turned it over three or more times in a game. The Bucs also did not force a turnover in that contest, for a season-worst -3 turnover differential. The Dolphins turned one of their three takeaways into a touchdown, and the Buccaneers are now 0-4 this season when they have a negative differential in points scored off turnovers.
7
The number of NFC South titles Tampa Bay has won since the division was formed in 2002. That is currently tied for the most in division history with the Saints, so the Buccaneers could take over the top spot if they win on Saturday and the Falcons lose on Sunday. Meanwhile, Carolina is seeking its sixth NFC South crown and its first since winning three in a row from 2013-15.
10
The number of players on the Buccaneers' 2025 roster who have surpassed 300 yards from scrimmage after Chris Godwin joined that group with a 108-yard outing against the Dolphins. That is tied for the most players on a team with 300-plus yards from scrimmage in a single season in NFL history, a feat now accomplished nine times, including by the 2017 Buccaneers. The 10 players on the list are Emeka Egbuka, Rachaad White, Bucky Irving, Cade Otton, Sterling Shepard, Baker Mayfield, Tez Johnson, Sean Tucker, Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan.
33
The number of times the Buccaneers' offense ran the ball against Carolina in a 23-20 road loss in Week 16, gaining 169 yards. The Bucs believed a run-heavy approach was the right formula to defeating the Panthers, but a late turnover and a failure to score a touchdown from a first-and-goal at the four-yard line doomed the visitors to the three-point defeat. Worth noting: Seattle ran the ball 36 times for 163 yards in their 27-10 win over the Panthers this past Sunday.
50.0
The percentage of third downs the Buccaneers' offense has converted over its last three games (18 of 36). That includes eight of 14 against Carolina in Week 16. The Buccaneers have been able to move the chains fairly regularly during their current losing streak but have shot themselves in the foot too often with turnovers and penalties. Carolina's defense has allowed a third-down conversion rate of 46.7%, second worst in the NFL.
74.1
The percentage of times that Baker Mayfield has produced a first down when he has taken off on a run on third down, including twice last week in three scrambles against the Dolphins. That ranks second among all NFL quarterbacks in third-down run conversion rate behind Justin Herbert (75.0%) of the Los Angeles Chargers.
214
The number of regular season games played and games started by linebacker Lavonte David since he joined the Buccaneers as a second-round draft pick in 2012. That number will become 215 on Saturday, after which David will at some point make a decision as to whether or not it will be his final tally. Currently, David ranks third in both categories in team history behind only Hall of Famers Ronde Barber (241 games played, 232 starts) and Derrick Brooks (224, 221).
