ADDITIONAL 2025 CHANGES/DEVELOPMENTS OF NOTE
• The Buccaneers rolled into 2025 with their fourth offensive coordinator in the last four years. This year’s transition, however, is a bit different than the last two. In 2023 and 2024, Dave Canales and Liam Coen, respectively, came to town with entirely new offensive systems that the players had to absorb. In 2025, the Buccaneers followed the departure of Coen to be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach by promoting former Pass Game Coordinator Josh Grizzard from within. Grizzard is certainly evolving the Bucs’ offense in new ways and have his own spin on play-calling, but the basic system remains the same, offering a very helpful continuity for a team that is also returning all of its offensive regulars from a unit that finished in the top five in 2024 in net yards, points scored, rushing yards and passing yards. After Grizzard’s promotion, the Buccaneers also hired one of his former colleagues, Kefense Hynson, to be the team’s new pass game coordinator.
• To celebrate their landmark 50th season, the Buccaneers have unveiled a new sort of throwback uniform in 2025. In addition to the popular “Creamsicle” togs that they will don for the Thursday night game against Atlanta in Week 15, the Bucs have also worn, for this season only, a white version of their original uniforms worn during the 1976 season. Those uniforms made their debut in the home opener against the Jets in Week Three and were broken out again when the Bucs played at Seattle in Week Five, a game that was a battle of the NFL’s two expansion teams from 1976.
• While Todd Bowles remains the play-caller for Tampa Bay’s defense, he did make some changes to his defensive coaching staff. Mike Caldwell, who was part of the Bucs’ staff from 2019-21 when Bowles was the defensive coordinator, returns to tutor the inside linebackers. Larry Foote has moved from inside linebackers to outside linebackers and is also the team’s run game coordinator. George Edwards, who previously coached the outside linebackers, is now the pass game coordinator.
• The Buccaneers started the season without All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin, but both returned to the lineup in Week Four. However, the Buccaneers’ injured reserve list has grown considerably as the season has progressed. Wide receiver Jalen McMillan sustained a severe neck strain in Week Two of the preseason against Pittsburgh and is expected to be sidelined for at least half of the regular season. He is currently on injured reserve but can be designated for return. Since the start of the season, the Buccaneers have also lost defensive linemen Calijah Kancey, tackle Luke Goedeke, guard Cody Mauch, tight end Ko Kieft and safety Rashad Wisdom to injured reserve. Goedeke is expected to return from IR at some point but Kancey, Mauch and Kieft are likely to miss the rest of the season.Godwin suffered a second injury that has had him sidelined for weeks and fellow wide receiver Mike Evans is on injured reserve due to a fractured collarbone.
• The changes made to the kickoff process by the NFL during the offseason appear to have impacted the Buccaneers’ strategy for that play in a significant manner. Now that a touchback on a ball caught or landing in the end zone puts the ball at the receiving team’s 35, the Buccaneers have relied a lot less on touchbacks, which they produced on more than 75% of their kickoffs last year. With that in mind, the team took kick coverage units into serious consideration when shaping the 53-man roster and multiple players – including linebacker John Bullock, cornerback Josh Hayes, outside linebacker Markees Watts and wide receivers Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson – made the team in large part due to their special teams contributions.
• The biggest development for the Bills during the 2025 offseason was the new deal they were able to reach with reigning league MVP Josh Allen to keep him Buffalo for the foreseeable future. Allen got a six-year extension that runs through the 2030 season and is worth $330 million. The Bills were also able to get new deals done with several key defensive players, including cornerback Christian Benford and defensive end Greg Rousseau. On offense, the team was able to retain wide receiver Khalil Shakir, as well. The Bills did release edge rusher Von Miller and saw safety Micah Hyde announce his retirement.
• Since the 2025 season has begun, the Bills’ defensive front has taken a series of hits. First, defensive tackle T.J. Sanders landed on injured reserve in early October; he could return later this month. Near the end of the month, the team lost starting defensive tackle Ed Oliver to a torn bicep; he might be able to rejoin the roster in the postseason but is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. Just six days later, defensive end Michael Hoecht also landed on I.R., in his case with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
• The Bills also had to find a new kicking duo in September, as placekicker Tyler Bass was placed on injured reserve on September 5 and punter Cameron Johnston followed him to that unit on September 30. Johnston himself had only been signed by the Bills just before the start of the regular season. The team signed kicker Matt Prater and punter Mitch Wishnowsky as replacements.
• Construction continues on the team’s new stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in July of 2026. Highmark Stadium will be open-air and is expected to seat at least 60,000 fans.
INJURY REPORT
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation in practice
• Ben Bredeson (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP
• WR Chris Godwin (fibula) – WEDS: LP
• RB Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) – WEDS: LP
• OLB Haason Reddick (ankle/knee) – WEDS: DNP
• DL Vita Vea (back) – WEDS: LP
• OLB Markees Watts (hand) – WEDS: LP
• S Antoine Winfield (foot) – WEDS: LP
* The Buccaneers conducted a walk-through on Wednesday. The practice status reports from that day are estimations.
• CB Christian Benford (groin) – WEDS: LP
• LB Terrel Bernard (ankle) – WEDS: LP
• DE Joey Bosa (wrist) – WEDS: LP
• DE A.J. Epenesa (concussion) – WEDS: FP
• CB Taron Johnson (groin) – WEDS: LP
• TE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring) – WEDS: DNP
• DB Cam Lewis (calf) – WEDS: LP
• DT Phidarian Mathis (shoulder) – WEDS: DNP
• WR Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle) – WEDS: FP
• DT Jordan Phillips (wrist) – WEDS: FP
• DT T.J. Sanders* (knee) – WEDS: FP
• WR Khalil Shakir (ankle/ribs) – WEDS: LP
• LB Shaq Thompson (hamstring) – WEDS: LP
• LB Dorian Williams (groin) – WEDS: LP
* Sanders is in his 21-day practice window for return from injured reserve.
WEATHER FORECAST
Cloudy, high of 45, low of 32, 24% chance of rain, 70% humidity, winds out of the WNW at 19mph, higher wind gusts possible.
GAME REFEREE
Head referee: Alex Moore (fourth season, first as referee)
BETTING LINE
• Favorite: Bills (-5.5)
INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS
Points Scored: K Chase McLaughlin, 72
Touchdowns: WR Emeka Egbuka, 6
Passing Yards: QB Baker Mayfield, 2,192
Passer Rating: QB Baker Mayfield, 99.2
Rushing Yards: RB Rachaad White, 325
Receptions: WR Emeka Egbuka, 40
Receiving Yards: WR Emeka Egbuka, 677
Interceptions: LB Jamel Dean, 3
Tackles: S Tykee Smith, 74
Points Scored: K Matt Prater, 62
Touchdowns: QB Josh Allen/RB James Cook, 7
Passing Yards: QB Josh Allen, 2,139
Passer Rating: QB Josh Allen, 105.7
Rushing Yards: RB James Cook, 920
Receptions: WR Khalil Shakir, 45
Receiving Yards: WR Khalil Shakir, 457
Interceptions: S Cole Bishop/CB Maxwell Hairston, 2
Tackles: S Cole Bishop, 48
TEAM STAT RANKINGS
Scoring Offense: 11th (24.4 ppg)
Total Offense: 17th (328.3 ypg)
Rushing Offense: 25th (99.8 ypg)
Passing Offense: 14th (228.6 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: 17th (19.4)
Third-Down Pct.: 24th (36.5%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 10th (6.09%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: 24th (52.0%)
Scoring Defense: 14th (22.9 ppg)
Total Defense: 20th (334.0 ypg)
Rushing Defense: 11th (100.8 ypg)
Passing Defense: 24th (233.2 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: t-8th (18.4)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 17th (38.5%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 11th (8.39%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 21st (61.9%)
Turnover Margin: t-2nd (+8)
Scoring Offense: 6th (27.6 ppg)
Total Offense: 2nd (384.4 ypg)
Rushing Offense: 1st (153.2 ypg)
Passing Offense: 12th (231.2 ypg)
First Downs Per Game: t-4th (22.8)
Third-Down Pct.: 5th (43.9%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt Allowed: 19th (7.43%)
Red Zone TD Pct.: 7th (65.6%)
Scoring Defense: 11th (21.9 ppg)
Total Defense: 14th (317.8 ypg)
Rushing Defense: 30th (147.6 ypg)
Passing Defense: 3rd (170.2 ypg)
First Downs Allowed Per Game: 12th (18.7)
Third-Down Pct. Allowed: 13th (37.5%)
Sacks Per Pass Attempt: 5th (10.25%)
Red Zone TD Pct. Allowed: 14th (58.3%)
Turnover Margin: t-12th (+2)
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• QB Baker Mayfield has thrown for 10,736 yards since joining the Buccaneers in 2023. That ranks eighth in franchise history and he could move up to seventh, passing Brad Johnson (10,940), with another 205 on Sunday in Buffalo.
• TE Cade Otton tied a career high with nine receptions against the Patriots in Week 10, turning them into 82 yards. Otton’s 1,799 career receiving yards rank sixth in team history among tight ends and he could move into fifth with seven more, passing Dave Moore (1,805).
• LB Lavonte David secured his 14th interception in the Bucs’ Week Five win in Seattle, setting up the game-ending field goal. With one more interception, he would join Pro Football Hall of Famers Charles Woodson and Ray Lewis as the only players with 15-plus interceptions, 15-plus forced fumbles and 15-plus fumble recoveries since data began being tracked in 1994.
• DL Vita Vea recorded a half-sack against San Francisco in Week Six, improving his career total to 33.0. That put him into a tie with both Brad Culpepper and Jason Pierre-Paul for the ninth-most sacks in franchise history. Vea would break that tie with one more sack, and two more would move him past Chidi Ahanotu (34.5) into eighth place.
• S Antoine Winfield Jr. has 18.0 career sacks, tied with four other players for the 11th most by a defensive back since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Two more sacks would allow him to tie Charles Woodson for 10th place on that list.
NOTABLY QUOTABLE
• Head Coach Todd Bowles on safety Tykee Smith emerging as a playmaker, and if he’s becoming a “chess piece” alongside Antoine Winfield Jr.: “Yeah, I believe so, because both can blitz, both can cover, both can tackle and both make plays. We have a few chess pieces on defense that we use, but with Tykee and ‘Win,’ they get along so well together with the communication and understanding which one is coming and which one is not. They help each other out a great deal. I like the combination of the two.”
• Quarterback Baker Mayfield on how he is feeling physically this week and if injuries have affected his game in the past few weeks: “It’s the middle of the season in the NFL. Nobody feels good, [but] it is not an excuse. As a professional, you do everything you can to try and get as close to 100% and go from there. I only got hit a couple times, no setbacks or anything like that. [I am] looking to stack a couple of weeks like that, personally for me, in a row to be able to continue to improve. As the team gets more healthy, likewise trying to get myself more healthy too.”
• Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka on what the focus is during a tough three-game stretch of opponents: “We knew we had a stretch to go through, but that’s what NFL football is. Any week, every team has the talent to take out the other team. There is really no opponent that goes overlooked for us. We knew coming out of the bye, we were just going to have to recenter and refocus. It was good for guys to be able to get healthy and get their bodies right, but now we have to go, and we have to have a great run going into the postseason.”
• Safety Tykee Smith on how he weighs the good and bad from the explosive plays given up to the New England Patriots: “Like I said, I think we just have to get back to the basics and little details. [We are] trying to play mistake-free football, which is impossible, but trying to limit as many mistakes as possible. That’s going back to the drawing board. I think this week, we’ll get back to that and try to see what hurt us last week and don’t let that happen again.”
• Bowles on the importance of finishing the tackle against a big and elusive player like Josh Allen: “He’s a big guy, like you said, and you’ve got to wrap him up. Then you’ve got to try to get him to the ground. Even with you hanging on him, he can still throw the football. So, it’s going to be important that we try to rally and get as many people to the ball as possible and not let him out the pocket and try to make it hard for him.”