NFL news: Week 5 - Seattle Seahawks take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers in fierce NFC matchup; how to watch, analysis and more
As we enter the month of October, the spooky season is almost upon us - and for NFL teams, it brings Week 5 of the 2025/26 season to the fore.
This Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will pay tribute to the NFL’s expansion in 1976 when…you guessed it, both Seattle and Tampa Bay were welcomed into the National Football League.
The teams will honour it by wearing custom retro kits for Sunday’s game to pay homage to the 1976 expansion which led to both teams' arrival to the league.
The Buccaneers (3-1) head to the home of the 12’s, Lumen Field, in what looks to be a fantastic NFC matchup against the Seattle Seahawks (3-1).
Here, Sports News Blitz’s NFL writer Finley Young takes a look at the game of the weekend.
Broadway Baker
The Bucs, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, head into this game after a narrow loss to last year's Super Bowl winners - the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
Prior to that, the Bucs were on a three game winning streak, getting the W against the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and New York Jets.
Baker Mayfield, The #1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, will be hoping to bounce back and lead his Buccaneers side to victory on Sunday.
Mayfield hasn't quite hit the high standards projected for him when he was picked by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
After unsuccessful stints at the Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield was eventually picked up by the Bucs in 2023.
Since then, Mayfield has led the Buccaneers to two consecutive division titles and a playoff victory, finally translating some of his Heisman trophy winning form into the NFL.
And he’s started this season in fine form as well.
Through the first four games, Mayfield has thrown for 904 yards, eight touchdowns and just the one interception.
He’s also picked up over 100 yards on the ground and nine first downs for the Buccaneers, displaying his excellent ability to move across the football field.
‘Peek-a-boo-ka’
Mayfield has also gained an exciting weapon to target this offseason in rookie Emeka Egbuka.
The former Ohio State Buckeyes receiver was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round (19th) of this year's draft.
Egbuka looks like a seriously good pickup for the Bucs, with the rookie receiver already hauling in 282 yards and four touchdowns.
However, the star rookie receiver isn’t the only exciting wide receiver on offer for NFL viewers.
We meet again
Egbuka will be coming up against former team-mate, and 2023 first round pick, Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Seattle Seahawks had a serious clear out on offence this offseason, moving on star wide receiver, DK Metcalf, to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and releasing legendary wideout, Tyler Lockett.
Despite facing criticism for the bold moves this summer, the Seahawks must be quietly smirking after Smith-Njigba’s brilliant start to the season as the team's new WR1.
Smith-Njigba has hauled in the second most yards by any wide receiver this season, only behind Los Angeles Rams’, Puka Nacua, with 402 yards and one touchdown.
Smith-Njigba has formed a nice connection with quarterback Sam Darnold, who the Seahawks picked up from the Minnesota Vikings this past offseason.
Seahawks head coach, Mike Macdonald, must be happy with how Darnold has moulded pretty quickly into his Seahawks offence.
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Legion of Boom 2.0
Macdonald is in his second year with the Seahawks after taking over from the legendary head coach, Pete Caroll in 2024.
Seahawks General Manager, John Schneider, hired Mike Macdonald from the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.
Macdonald was the defensive coordinator for the successful Baltimore Ravens defence and Schneider gave him the small task of trying to create a new Legion of Boom at the Seahawks.
And, Macdonald isn’t letting him down.
The Seahawks defence has started the new season as one of the NFL’s most formidable.
They currently rank second in the fewest points allowed by any NFL team and sixth in sacks so far.
Defence wins Championships
The Hawks are also dominating in the trenches as well this season.
After four games, Boye Mafe ranks sixth among edge rushers in pass rush win rate (27%), while Derick Hall ranks ninth (24%).
Inside, Jarran Reed ranks ninth in pass rush win rate (13%) and Byron Murphy II ranks 12th (12%).
However, the Bucs are no push over in defence either.
In 2024, the Buccaneers recorded the second highest blitz-rate, 8th highest pressure rate and tied for sixth in total sacks with 46.
One thing’s for certain, Sunday's game is going to be a real 1970’s themed cracker!
Both teams will be hoping for a playoff run this season and the chance to go 4-1 is huge at this stage of the season.
I can’t wait for it and I hope you all enjoy another great weekend of football.
Go Hawks!
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks kick-off time?
The game is scheduled for Sunday, October 5 at 1:05pm for US viewers - and 9:05pm for UK viewers.
Where to watch Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
In the UK, the game will be available on DAZN and NFL Redzone on Sky.
At which venue is Seattle Seahawks vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers being played?
The game will take place at Lumen Field, Seattle, WA.
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