Red Zone Battle
October 5th, 2025
Big play in front of his homies?
Joe predicts this one ends today.
And, just because it sounds fun, Joe will predict Emeka Egbuka will do the honors in his neck of the woods.
The Bucs’ fantastic rookie grew up about an hour south of Seattle. He has a bunch of friends and family attending the game with his mom handling all the tickets. But for all the Seahawks fans in his troupe, Mama Egbuka has a requirement: No Bucs gear? No ticket for you!
So what is Joe banking on Egbuka to do? That would be to score the first touchdown against Seattle this season from outside the red zone.
Per Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis, there will be a battle of wills today in the Great Northwest.
* Seattle is one of three teams that has not allowed a touchdown from outside of the red zone.
* Tampa Bay has 5 touchdowns from outside of the red zone, tied for second in the league.
Why does Joe think the Bucs snap the Seahawks’ streak? The Seahawks are thin at safety (down two) and Seattle is also without two of their better defensive backs, Julian Love and Devon Witherspoon.
If the Bucs can score from outside the 20, Joe will be confident the Bucs are in the game.
October 5th, 2025 at 12:11 am
I like this prediction, Joe. Go Bucs!!
October 5th, 2025 at 12:15 am
I like our chances !
October 5th, 2025 at 12:43 am
Looking at their first 4 games, Seahawks have only given up 9 plays of 20 yds or more … 8 passes & 1 run (scramble by Murray). Of the 8 passes, 5 were deep completions & 3 were short passes that went for over 20 yds.
That’s an average of allowing only 2 ‘explosive plays’ per game, and only 1 of those was an explosive run. IOW, Seahawks defense seems to be especially adept at NOT allowing explosive plays.
Seattle is 1 of 3 teams that has not allowed a TD from outside of the red zone as the article states, but when teams have gotten into the Red Zone, their defense has only allowed them to score a TD 46% of the time (that’s 6 TDs in 13 trips inside the Red Zone). They rank #6 in that category. Given that opponents have only scored 67 points total against them in 4 games (16.8 PPG average) I’d say that their defense is real.
October 5th, 2025 at 12:49 am
I don’t know the Seattle personnel so I don’t know how hurt they’re going to be by injuries, but I do know that they are a very very good defense, most likely the best defense the Bucs will face this year. Hopefully their injuries help offset our injuries, but there are very few teams that can match the Bucs in that category.
Anywho, west coast trip, very beat up – that normally doesn’t go well, but as always, I’d love the Bucs to go get the W.
October 5th, 2025 at 2:50 am
I would settle for scoring actual TD’s in the RedZone again! They were real good at it last season. It really hurts not having Big-Mike & JMac (and Bucky, too). But, they’ve got to be better. They’ve always (even last season at times) had a tendency to slowdown and get too conservative once in FG range. Think “TOUCHDOWN,” Todd. Can’t just settle for FG’s all day today… I heard that Chase has come down with an ‘illness’ anyway!
October 5th, 2025 at 2:59 am
Looks like all three, the Bucs, Ravens, AND Niners are outpacing Detroit from a season ago, in the injury department. I think the Ravens are without something like 9-STARTERS now, and I counted like 16-TOTAL. That’s not even counting their IR, & etc. Which, I think is up to about 20-22 TOTAL! It’s Insane. Something’s gotta give. Gotta get these guys OFF of these ‘synthetic’ turf playing surfaces. GOT TO. All of these ‘lower-extremity’ injuries are ridiculous now.
October 5th, 2025 at 7:44 am
From your mouth Joe to God’s ears.