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.
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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.”
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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.
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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