Emeka Egbuka Makes Close-Games Argument
February 21st, 2026
So the Bucs went winless in December, losing four games by a grand total of 11 points.
That means the Bucs dropped four consecutive games by one score. Painful!
Receiver Emeka Egbuka thinks that shows how close Tampa Bay is to being a special football team, so he told CBS Sports.
“But if you look down at it, we weren’t getting blown out,” Egbuka said of the Bucs’ late-season collapse. “We were losing games by three points, one point here and there. You know you got to find ways to make plays in those critical moments. And I think we just need to do more of that down the stretch. I think we have a very bright future. We have all the pieces that we need to make a deep run in the playoffs and even a Super Bowl.”
Joe’s main issue with Egbuka’s argument is that the Bucs lost all those games to losing football teams: Saints, Falcons, Panthers and Dolphins. And the Bucs had 10 days rest to prep for that road matchup with Carolina.
Overall, the Bucs’ record was 6-6 in one-score games last season. In 2024, the Bucs were 3-5 in one-score games. A year earlier in 2022, their record was 3-4. In 2022, the Bucs finished 6-4 in one-score games.
In a league dominated by close games and signficant parity, Joe’s can’t say losing close games is anything to feel positive about.
Conversely, Joe would wag a finger at the Bucs fans who bark that the team barely pulled out games early last season.
Ira Kaufman Talks Mike Evans Reality & Nonsense, Key Questions Next Week For Jason Licht And Todd Bowles, Draft Dreams, And Much More
February 21st, 2026 at 4:41 pm
@Joe,
“In a league dominated by close games and significant parity, Joe’s can’t say losing close games is anything to feel positive about.”
———————————————————————
For sure, it’s not something to feel positive about, but it’s better than getting blown out in those games. 😉
February 21st, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Right before those games we got blown out by the Rams; that game showed me we were nowhere ready for the playoffs.
February 21st, 2026 at 5:08 pm
We were losing to bums – we weren’t playing the Seahawks or Broncos. It was the Dolphins, Falcons and Saints handing us embarrassing L`s
February 21st, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Yep and they could have lost like 5 more they won lol. This team needs to understand dominance. They dont. Until you get out of the mediocrity that is the mentality. We dont go out and just throw down for four quarters. We lack focus. We lack intensity. Who’s fault is it. The coach. The players. Its all of them. Trade Winfield to the Raiders and a first for Crosby. We need aloha dominant men on this team. Or trade up for bain. Idc. I know what I see in person and theres no fire on that team.
February 21st, 2026 at 5:18 pm
“We almost won” doesn’t cut it in the NFL, or it shouldn’t, anyway. Yet here the Bucs are, stuck with an ALMOST competent HC/DC.
February 21st, 2026 at 5:46 pm
“We have all the pieces that we need to make a deep run in the playoffs and even a Super Bowl.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good thing he doesn’t read the comments on this sight or he’d loose that Great attitude, or worse……………..Off himself.
February 21st, 2026 at 6:07 pm
Three of those teams our in our division. Losing teams or not, division games are never a lay up. Not getting blown out means something
February 21st, 2026 at 6:45 pm
We have no attitude. Kinda like Todd. Enough said.
Time to draft DOGS!!!! They will make sure we have home field advantage and go deep into the playoffs. The Lavante experiment has to be reviewed. The man needs also a winning attitude that will defend his turf.
February 21st, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Blame on Bowles and a few bored players.
February 21st, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Since I am a daily patron to this here site, I would like to lodge a complaint. May I speak to the manager? Here’s the deal – up until about a month ago, the ads I got were consistently of scantily clad young woman in lingerie. One of them that kept coming up was practically see-through. Now, for the past month I am getting ads for plumbing fixtures and refrigerators at the home improvement store. Wtf, sirs? I can *promise* you that my browser history remains replete with far more “interesting” subject matter. I trust that this was an inadvertent oversight, and look forward to your response.
Respectfully, DungyDance
February 21st, 2026 at 8:21 pm
These players need to STFU and let their play do the talking. So far it’s saying they’re undisciplined, unmotivated, poorly coached and lifeless.
February 21st, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Emeka Egbuka reminds me of a former first round draft pick at the wide receiver position. That would be Michael Clayton who came out in his rookie year and impressed everyone then was a nobody. Egbuka was the talk of the town in his first several games, he was a nobody in the last half of the season. Is he a flash in the pan or a real player. He was terrible down the stretch, did not contribute at all.
Very inconsistent.
February 21st, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Awww capt..mommy wouldn’t let you play pop warner! Im sorry,I bet your a pro at drinkn beer a real 60 minute man, or your wife says 60 seconds man!
February 21st, 2026 at 8:55 pm
The close games badge of honor is a losers mentality in the NFL…
The Bucs crapped the bed after the bye week….Bowles D having a hard time keeping other teams out of the end zone or FG range late in the 4th QTR doomed the Bucs in 2025, as did his decision to go with a 1st time play caller that generated about a TD less than Coen did in 2024 – with basically a BETTER cast of skill players.
(Yeah, injuries…Boo Flippin Hoo…Everyone in the NFL deals with injuries…It’s also the FO’s job to keep the cupboard stocked in case of those foreseeable complications).
Throw in pee-wee league YMCA worthy Special Teams coverage units that shat the bed on the regular…You know – where all the kids that shouldn’t be on the field get to play so their parents feel like lil’Johnny earned that participation trophy that’s handed out at the end of the season banquet….That’s what we watched of the Bucs coverage teams in 2025…..The NSFW “Monkey blanking a Football” saying comes to mind.
Can’t wait to get all tossed if 2026 goes sideways.
February 21st, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Joe’s going to steal that. It’s beautiful!
February 21st, 2026 at 9:16 pm
Dungy dung has marital issues ..stick with the housewives of Beverly hills you won’t get in trouble GO BUCS ! BAKER LIVES!
February 21st, 2026 at 9:20 pm
The abhorrent Special teams play cost the Bucs a minimum of two games, and arguably 4 games last season. Fix that, draft/hire some ILBs, find a pass rush and the Bucs are going to be a dangerous team in 2026.
February 21st, 2026 at 9:27 pm
Cat.. usually the healthiest teams win the tournament!
February 21st, 2026 at 11:26 pm
Wait until next year. It’ll be worse.
February 21st, 2026 at 11:27 pm
@Anyhony
Timely comment.
February 21st, 2026 at 11:33 pm
Gotta draft well on defense, and that’s been our problem. JTS, Hall, McCollum, Braswell, Dennis and co are outnumbering the Winfields, Smiths and Diabys.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:17 am
Yeah, he fails to mention WHO they actually PLAYED. Including, just BARELY beating the Cardinals, at HOME. Sounds very convenient, EE. Smoke and Mirrors People, Don’t Buy-It.
February 22nd, 2026 at 6:57 am
Forget about the defense. Forget about wasting a draft pick on an edge rusher. Spend every draft pick on offensive line, running back tight end and a backup quarterback. Let’s put together a 30 points per game offense and let Bowles’ horrible defense do what they do.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:07 am
Hey this is Bowzos game plan. Keep it close and maybe win half the time.
February 22nd, 2026 at 8:43 am
All of our WINS were close games too. Only takes the smallest mistake to lose–blocked kick, blocked punt, late pick, offsides on a field goal turning 3 into 7, personal foul from head-butting an opponent, allowing kickoffs to reach the 40+ EVERY time….we could have just as easily been 12-5 as 5-12
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:51 am
How many 1 score games did Seattle have? 9 and they went 6-3. NE? 7-3. Rams? 4-5. Denver? 11-3.
What’s the difference? Coaching and players.
February 22nd, 2026 at 10:41 am
Injuries.
It’s not rocket science.
February 22nd, 2026 at 11:15 am
Losing teams or not, division games are never a lay up. Not getting blown out means something…DBOOO
What a bunch of excrement!
Q: “How did the Buc game go?”
A: “Really great! We only lost by 2 when some guy returns a kickoff for a TD!”
or
A: “Really great! We had them down the end of the game but they made out of a 3rd and 28 situation and we lost by a FG!”
Note: Above was recorded in Mr. DeeeBOOO’s room at Meese Manor.
February 22nd, 2026 at 3:48 pm
It’s a legitimate argument. I think the issue is it’s not the positive argument that EE thinks it is.
We are ultra competitive, no doubt about that. But we don’t have the manager to do what it takes to get the team over the top consistently in one score games. And we obviously know what his record is in prime time games when we tend to play elite programs.
February 22nd, 2026 at 7:37 pm
In other words, the Bucs have talent but no leadership from players or coaches.
February 22nd, 2026 at 9:25 pm
The injuries were the biggest issue. Saying that every team has injuries is true but it’s not only a matter of to what degree but also a matter of whether a team has the depth to compensate for some of the injuries. Would the 49ers have gone 12-5 if they didn’t have Mac Jones to fill in for Purdy? We clearly didn’t have the depth pieces we needed not to mention the coaching failed this team across the board, not just Bowles. Yes, the 49ers did a great job this past season overcoming all their injuries but they also had a tremendous number of injuries the year before and I think they finished that season 7-10. It’s a fine line between success and failure year to year in the NFL. Having consistent success is what matters even if you throw in a disappointing year occasionally. Winning 2 out of 3 division titles and 2 playoff appearances in 2 out of 3 years post Tom Brady when most predicted a rebuild might have something to do with the Glazers not firing Bowles and tearing it all down.