The Tampa Bay Buccaneers improved to 5-1 on the season after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 30-19. The Pewter Pirates sit atop the NFC, and NFC South heading into week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. That can only mean it’s time for Carter Brantley’s weekly article, Captain’s Table – Walk the Plank!
Captain’s Table:
Baker Mayfield:
What more can you say about the former Oklahoma Sooner? Whether it’s his risky but wonderful scrambling ability I can pick up a first down on third and 14, or whether it’s his command of the offense, or even if you just want to focus on his raw passing ability. It’s all been at an MVP level, and he’s getting some well earned recognition for it, not just from Bucs fans. He’s starting to emerge as a very solid MVP candidate and rightfully so.
Tez Johnson:
The rookie out of Oregon has been a much needed spark plug the past couple of weeks. He’s been able to not only be a part of this offense, but thrive in it as he hauled a ridiculous touchdown today against the 49ers. His lack of size is still a concern as he still mostly has been used as a gadget player, but even in that limited role he’s been able to provide immense value, especially as a seventh round pick.
Lavonte David:
The old vet still has it as he managed to get himself a sack and nearly a forced fumble, but he has been a studying force for what has been otherwise meh defense for the most part. Good enough to sustain a great offense, but not quite at the elite level that they have the potential to be.
The Pass Rush
I know David got a sack, but the rest of the team had five combined sacks. It was truly a wonderful performance from a group that has needed to step up quite a bit. Hopefully this can be the start of an excellent rest of the season.
Rachaad White
Mr. White wasn’t necessarily a game breaking back this past week, but he was just good enough to be a valuable part of the offense and that’s all you can really ask out of a backup running back. Bucky Irving continuing to be out hurts and his social media stuff has been weird as of late, so Mr. White might have to continue to be a big contributor. I’m sure he doesn’t mind in a contract season.
Walk the Plank:
Injuries
Man, I don’t know how much more the Buccaneers can take. Yet another guard goes down, and there were other injuries throughout the week as Zyon McCollum was unable to suit up, and Emeka Egbuka exited the game in the second half and did not return. Hopefully it’s just a minor setback for the standout wide receiver out of Ohio State, but we shall see.
Special Teams
I hate to sound like a broken record, but when is this going to change? Their kickoff coverage is still awful. They missed another field goal. They had a running into the punter penalty committed by Vita Vea, which who knows why in God‘s name he’s playing special teams, they gave San Francisco a first down and could’ve potentially been disastrous. Something needs to change soon. These are the types of things that can cost a team, not only in a playoff game, but in the very tight divisional matchups that are on the way.
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