After a hot 6-2 start to the 2025 slate, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won just two of their final nine games, finishing second in the NFC South. The Bucs snapped their four-year run as division champions, relinquishing the crown to the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay's offense did not reach the proficiency it operated at in recent years, as injuries and self-inflicted wounds became the narrative. However, throughout the peaks and valleys, the following trio created a spark:
Baker Mayfield
In 2025, Baker Mayfield galvanized the offense with his legs, extending drives in critical moments. He rushed 29 times on third down this season, with 21 going for first downs (72.4% success rate). Mayfield rushed for a career-high 382 rushing yards in 2025 and ranked ninth in the NFL in rushing yards among quarterbacks. He led all quarterbacks in yards per rush at 6.9 (minimum of 50 rushes) and he led all quarterbacks in first downs per rush (49.1% of his rushes went for a first down). Mayfield ranked second among all quarterbacks in third-down run conversion rate (72.4%, trailing only Justin Herbert). He ranked second among all quarterbacks in yards after contact per rush (3.19, trailing only Josh Allen). Mayfield spurred the offense with his competitive disposition and tight release darts off-platform. His improvisation skills and ability to evade pressure rallied the unit.
Emeka Egbuka
Emeka Egbuka was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September. He became the first Tampa Bay wide receiver to accomplish the feat since 2015. He became a fixture in the Bucs' 3-1 start, emerging as the club's leading receiver during a month in which Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan all missed time. He concluded the month of September with 18 receptions for 282 yards (15.7 average) and four touchdowns, including a game-winner with 59 seconds left in the team's Week One win over the Atlanta Falcons. He became just the second player since the 1970 merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception in the final minute of regulation in his first career game.
In Weeks One-Four, he was one of four NFC wide receivers, and the only rookie, with 75-plus yards from scrimmage in three-or-more games in September alongside Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Per NextGen Stats, Egbuka led all rookies and ranked second behind only Amon-Ra St. Brown in passer rating when targeted (128.0) among all players with 25-or-more targets in 2025, while also leading his class in receiving EPA with 11.2. Since 2000, Egbuka is one-of-four players with 15-plus receptions, 250-plus receiving yards and four-plus touchdown receptions through four career games joining Ja'Marr Chase, Calvin Ridely and Roy Williams.
Chase McLaughlin
Chase McLaughlin has made the most field goals from 50-plus yards in team history with 26, including an 11-for-11 stretch on 50-plus yard field goal attempts in 2025, which set a new record for the longest streak within a season without a miss in NFL history. His 65-yarder in Week Four against the Philadelphia Eagles was at the time the longest outdoor field goal in league annals. In field goal percentage from 50-plus yards all-time with a minimum of 30 attempts from 50-plus, McLaughlin ranks first with an 84.3% conversion, including hitting 43-of-51 attempts.
