The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to avoid back-to-back losses in Week 5, but it’s not going to be easy considering the next opponent is a very good Seattle Seahawks team looking for its fourth-straight win.

The Bucs offense might be facing its toughest test of the year in the Seahawks defense. It’s played like a Top-10 unit over the first month of the season and it should only get better as the weeks progress.

It’s not a one-sided affair, either. The Seahawks defense is strong against both the run and the pass thanks to Mike Macdonald’s scheme and it has a great opportunity to make life hard on Baker Mayfield and Co.

So with that being said, let’s dive into the biggest questions facing the Bucs offense.

How big of a ripple effect would Bucky Irving’s absence have on the offense?

There’s no doubt an Irving-less Bucs offense will not be anywhere near as explosive as we’re used to seeing. Irving’s shiftiness and elusiveness make him a threat every time he touches the ball and defenses always have to account for him on the field.

There’s also the fact Tampa Bay is already without its top playmaker in Mike Evans. Irving’s potential absence would only compound the situation.

In terms of the run game, the Bucs will likely lean more into their gap-schemed runs to help complement Rachaad White’s physical running style. Per Sports Info Solutions, White was the fourth-most efficient back in gap-schemed runs among backs with at least 50 carries in 2024.

White is a very capable player and is one of the better pass protectors at his position, so it’s not like the Bucs are taking a big step back in the running back department or anything like that. The explosive play element will be missed, though, and offenses need as many playmakers as they can get when going up against a defense like this one.

Irving’s absence shouldn’t create too much of a ripple effect, but there’s no doubt it’ll hurt a Bucs offense that just can’t catch a break when it comes to injuries.

Can the offensive line hold up against a stout pass rush and run defense?

The Bucs offensive line struggled against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. Mayfield was sacked twice and pressured on 18 of 44 dropbacks – his 40.9% pressure rate was the ninth-highest allowed. Irving and Co. didn’t have the most efficient day on the ground against Philly, either.

The Seahawks’ pass rush is a pretty fearsome unit. It currently boasts the NFL’s eighth-best pressure rate and has the sixth-most sacks on the year with 12, yet Macdonald blitzes opponents just 16.8% of the time, which is the second-lowest rate. Only the Cincinnati Bengals blitz less.

That means Seattle is wreaking havoc with four or fewer pass rushers and that’s a major help for the secondary, which can hold its own weight to begin with. The offensive line has to make sure it’s on top of things this week or Mayfield will be in for a long day.

The Seahawks’ run defense isn’t a joke, either. Opponents average -0.22 EPA/carry and -0.4 rush yards over expected per attempt against the ‘Hawks, which is second- and third-worst, respectively. Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams are as good as a 1-2 punch as it gets and they take up space and blocks so Ernest Jones IV can fly around and make plays.

Just like the pass rush, the Seahawks don’t need extra help to dominate in the run game. Per Next Gen Stats, they stack the box 11.9% of the time, which is the third-lowest rate through four weeks. That’s a problem because it allows the defense to keep an extra safety up top instead of in the box, which helps in coverage. It’s also a reflection of just how well the defense works as a unit – for the most part, guys are doing their job and winning their assignment(s), which has a snowball effect the rest of the way.

The left side of the Bucs offensive line is intact and should have a better showing after playing together for a whole game for the first time all year, but the right side will undoubtedly be the spot to watch with Charlie Heck at right tackle and Luke Haggard (potentially) at right guard. The whole front five needs to be on point, but especially those two.

Will Chris Godwin Jr. take a step toward looking like his old self?

The Bucs certainly didn’t pull any punches with Godwin Jr.’s debut – he played 81% of offensive snaps against the Eagles and was targeted 10 times in Week 4. He only caught three passes for 26 yards, but it’s clear he’s healthy and ready to get back to making big plays for the Bucs.

The Bucs’ passing attack, especially Emeka Egbuka, is hoping that happens this week. Egbuka’s hot start led Quiny0n Mitchell, the Eagles’ best cornerback, shadowing him for most of the game. Mitchell shut him down, too, to the tune of just two catches for six yards on six targets.

The Seahawks will have no trouble focusing on Egbuka themselves if Godwin Jr. is still in the process of getting his legs back under him. Egbuka has been great so far and he has a very bright future ahead, but he wasn’t much of a factor last week and even his 77-yard touchdown catch was an off-schedule play that contained a stroke of luck, as well.

Tampa Bay is going to need its best players to step up if it wants to win this game and Godwin Jr.’s name is definitely at the top of the list. convenience

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