Multiple team records poised to fall

As pointed out beautifully here, the Bucs have an ignominious relationship with winning. A rollercoaster ride more often than not stuck in neutral, but one that has nonetheless given us incredible highs to go with the consistent lows. The Bucs may not own a whole lot of glamorous NFL records, but the team has had its own share of greats worthy of immortality. As time marches on, current players are poised to leave their own mark on history.

Records sure to fall soon

First up, the most surefire candidate, Mike Evans. Alex Salvarezza wrote about him here. Because of his recent contract extension Evans seems certain to become the most prolific wide receiver in team history in 2018 or early in the 2019 season at the latest. Barring injury, Evans should re-write or shatter almost every team receiving record.

Assuming Jameis Winston isn’t cut by the Buccaneers for his recent sexual assault allegation he will likely soon break Vinny Testaverde’s team passing yards record of 14,820 yards, which Testaverde accumulated in six seasons with Tampa Bay from 1987 to 1992 before going on to play for six other teams. Winston currently sits at 11,636, just 3,184 yards off the lead. Winston threw for over 3,500 yards last season despite missing all or most of five games due to injury, the lowest total of his career. The NFL is expected to suspend Winston for at least three games this season.

Shockingly, Josh Freeman holds the team record for most passing touchdowns with 80, which he collected in just four seasons from 2009 to 2013. Testaverde reached 77 before being let go. After three seasons Winston currently sits at 69 passing touchdowns. Again assuming Winston isn’t cut it’s likely he will also hold this record before the end of the 2018 season. Winston also already holds the single-season team records for yards and passing touchdowns.

Records that might fall one day

Does anything think it’s impossible for Mike Evans to break Mark Carrier’s 1989 single-season receiving yards record of 1422 yards? Because I don’t. What about Vincent Jackson’s single-game record of 216 yards? Unlikely, but I’m not going to bet against Evans on that either.

Next, we have Warren Sapp’s team record 77 sacks between 1995 and 2003. Gerald McCoy currently sits at 48.5 sacks, 28.5 off of Sapp’s lead. McCoy currently averages about 6 sacks a season, meaning McCoy would need to keep his pace up for five more seasons to break it. Do you think he can do it?

Lavonte David currently sits fourth in team history in tackles with 547. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely this record will fall anytime soon as Derrick Brooks is first with a whopping 1,297, which he accumulated over 13 seasons. David has only played five seasons though, so if he can keep up his pace there’s a chance he could one day do it.

Probably not going to happen anytime soon

I seriously doubt many of the team’s single-game records will be broken anytime soon, like Doug Martin’s 251 rushing yards in 2012, or Doug Williams’ 486 passing yards in 1980 vs. the Minnesota Vikings. Or the three game interceptions for Ronde Barber in 2001 (actually did it again in 2005) and Aqib Talib in 2008, or the four sacks for Marcus Jones in 2000 and Simeon Rice in 2003.

No chance in hell

I’ll wear a Saints jersey in public if anyone beats James Wilder’s single-season rushing record of 1,544 yards or his team career rushing record of 5,957 yards anytime soon.