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GAMEDAY: Buccaneers vs Seahawks — Week 5 full preview (time, TV, key tactical battles)

Quick Facts

  • Matchup: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3–1) at Seattle Seahawks (3–1)

  • Venue: Lumen Field (Seattle)

  • Kickoff: 1:05 PM PDT / 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, Oct 5, 2025

  • TV: CBS · Radio (SEA): Seattle Sports 710AM & KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM


  • Context & storylines

    Both teams enter at 3–1 after an encouraging September. There’s a touch of history to this one: both the Seahawks and Buccaneers are celebrating their 50th seasons, and both are slated to wear throwback uniforms at Lumen Field.

    Personnel / injuries

    • Buccaneers — OUT: WR Mike Evans (hamstring), RB Bucky Irving (foot/contusion), CB Jamel Dean (hip), CB Benjamin Morrison (hamstring), S Christian Izien (quad).
      QB Baker Mayfield practiced fully late in the week; Chris Godwin Jr. is good to go.

  • Seahawks — OUT: CB Devon Witherspoon (knee), S Julian Love (hamstring), OLB DeMarcus Lawrence (quad), T Josh Jones (ankle).
    S Nick Emmanwori returns.

  • Form note: Rookie Emeka Egbuka (Bucs) just captured NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (September), the first Bucs wideout to earn the honor.


    How to watch/listen

    • TV: CBS (national, 4:05 ET window)

  • Radio (SEA): Seattle Sports 710AM & KIRO 97.3 FM

  • Streaming: CBS-affiliated streaming options (e.g., Paramount+)


  • Tactical hotspots

    1) Tampa Bay on third down

    The Bucs must raise their third-down efficiency—too many long-yardage situations have stalled drives, especially without Mike Evans and Bucky Irving. Seattle’s defense has been among the league’s stingiest in yards per play, amplifying the pressure on Baker Mayfield and OC Josh Grizzard to win early downs.

    2) Perimeter air war: Egbuka/Godwin Jr. vs a thinned Seattle secondary

    With Witherspoon and Love sidelined, Seattle’s deep coverage is stretched. That opens windows for Emeka Egbuka (hot hand) and Chris Godwin Jr. on digs/overs and well-timed shot plays outside the numbers. Crowd noise and Seattle’s pass rush, however, can still force Mayfield into quicker releases.

    3) Seattle’s rhythm offense: Sam Darnold and 12-personnel

    Seattle 2025 leans on Sam Darnold to steer a control game, marrying targets like Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 12-personnel structure. Without DeMarcus Lawrence, they’ll need interior heft from Leonard Williams/Byron Murphy II to own the edges and hammer Tampa’s linebackers via play-action.

    4) Special teams — the hidden lever

    Tampa’s special teams have flirted with issues—blocked punts, short punts, and FG consistency. In Seattle, where field position swings are magnified, the Bucs’ third phase has to tighten the screws.


    Keys to victory

    • Tampa Bay: (i) Early-down success to shorten third downs; (ii) protect the ball (≤1 turnover); (iii) manufacture 1–2 explosives to Egbuka/Godwin Jr. to offset the Evans/Irving absences.

  • Seattle: (i) Sustain pressure on Mayfield to cap vertical shots; (ii) weaponize crowd noise for communication/false starts; (iii) red-zone defense under 50% TD allowed.


  • Line & prediction

    • Current line: Seahawks -3.5, total ~44.5 (subject to late movement).

  • Projection: Seahawks 23, Buccaneers 21. Home-field edge and red-zone defense carry Seattle in a tight one—even as a single Egbuka burst could flip it.

  • Chiefs Fan-Favourite WR Faces Family Tragedy After Week 5 Game as Military-Trained Skydiving Instructor Dies in Nashville
    Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is mourning a devastating personal loss following the team’s Week 5 matchup, as his cousin Justin Fuller, a respected military-trained skydiving instructor, died in a tragic tandem jump accident near Nashville. Fuller, 35, was fatally injured after becoming separated from his parachute harness mid-air during a jump organized by Go Skydive Nashville. His student survived after landing in a tree with the parachute deployed and was later rescued by firefighters. Police confirmed Fuller’s body was recovered in a wooded area off Ashland City Highway. The Nashville Fire Department called it “one of the most complex high-angle rescues in recent years,” commending its personnel for the effort. Justin Fuller, known by the nickname "Spidey," died after a tandem skydiving jump went wrong on Oct. 4, 2025, near Nashville, Tennessee.  (Facebook/Justin Fuller Spidey ) Fuller, known affectionately as “Spidey,” had completed more than 5,000 jumps and trained U.S. military personnel in advanced aerial maneuvers. Friends described him as “fearless, focused, and committed to lifting others higher — both in life and in the air.” Rice, who grew up admiring his cousin’s discipline and sense of purpose, has long credited that example with shaping his mental toughness and leadership on the field. A relative told local media, “Justin taught Rashee that strength isn’t being unbreakable — it’s standing firm when life hits hardest. That’s exactly how Rashee lives and plays today.” As a featured target in the Chiefs’ offense, Rice has earned complete trust for his short-to-intermediate separation, yards-after-catch power (YAC), and chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Coaches describe him as “calm, focused, and mature beyond his years,” a disciplined route-runner who finds tight windows in the red zone. Through Week 5 of the 2025 season, Rice has no registered game statistics as he serves a league-issued six-game suspension to start the regular season; major stat services list no 2025 game logs to date.  The Kansas City Chiefs have provided time and private support for Rice and his family, ensuring he can grieve without team-related obligations. Teammates have stood beside him, honoring both his resilience and his family’s tradition of service. The FAA is investigating the incident, while messages commemorating “Spidey” continue to spread nationwide.“He taught others to fly — now he flies higher than all of us,” one tribute read. Rice kept his public remarks brief before leaving in the embrace of teammates:“Spidey always told me not to fear the height — only the moment you forget to look down and pull someone else up with you. This week, I’m playing for him.”