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# Egbuka’s Late TD Lifts Buccaneers to Divisional Win vs. Falcons
- URL: https://www.bayareaexaminer.com/egbukas-late-td-lifts-buccaneers/
- Published: 2025-09-08T15:47:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-21T15:46:33.000Z
- Description: The Buccaneers start the 2025 season 1-0 in a back and forth affair
- Author: Collin Sherwin
- Tags: #Migrated-1792597384348, #Import 2026-10-21 15:44

Emeka Egbuka’s 25-yard touchdown catch with 59 seconds remaining lifted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) to a 23-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons (0-1) on Sunday afternoon.

“He’s the real deal, a true professional. He doesn’t play like a rookie, he doesn’t act like a rookie,” Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said of Egbuka after the game.

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In his NFL debut, the former Ohio State standout and College Football Playoff national champion caught four passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons had a chance to force overtime, but kicker Younghoe Koo missed a 44-yard field goal with two seconds left.

It marked the Buccaneers’ fifth straight season-opening win and improved them to 4-0 in openers under coach Todd Bowles. A one-score victory was also notable, as Tampa Bay went 2-6 in such games last season, including two losses to Atlanta.

Bowles entered the game with a 2-4 record against the Falcons. Last season, Atlanta scored 66 combined points in its two meetings with Tampa Bay, but the Bucs’ defense held them to 20 on Sunday.

The game started poorly for Tampa Bay defensively, with Falcons running back Bijan Robinson scoring a 50-yard receiving touchdown on the opening drive. Robinson finished with 100 receiving yards and 24 rushing yards.

Tampa Bay held Atlanta to 13 points over the final 58:14\. The Buccaneers’ rushing defense was stout, limiting the Falcons to 69 yards on 2.5 yards per carry.

Tampa native Michael Penix Jr. completed 27 of 42 passes for 298 yards with one touchdown pass and one rushing score. It was Penix’s first career start against the Buccaneers. He took over for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in the final five games of the 2024 season.

Cornerback Zyon McCollum stood out for the Bucs. Playing his first game since signing a three-year contract extension, McCollum posted 10 tackles and a tackle for loss while helping limit Falcons top receiver Drake London to eight catches for 55 yards, 20 yards below his 2024 average.

Off-season free agent signee edge rusher Haason Reddick recorded the Buccaneers’ only sack and added a tackle for loss in his team debut.

Offensively, Mayfield called the performance “sloppy.” He completed 17 of 32 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns, with a 53.1% completion rate — his lowest since 2023 and fourth lowest as a Buccaneer.

Still, Mayfield came through in big moments, leading Tampa Bay in rushing with 39 yards and picking up three first downs with scrambles on third down. Running back Bucky Irving added his first career touchdown reception in the third quarter and rushed for 37 yards.

The Bucs adjusted their offensive line with All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs sidelined by a knee injury. Graham Barton slid from center to left tackle, Ben Bredeson moved from left guard to center, and Michael Jordan started at left guard.

“Graham is quicker footed in the run game and some of the other things we wanted to do, and it worked out for us,” Bowles said.

The reshuffled unit helped Tampa Bay rush for 101 yards at 4.4 yards per carry while allowing only one sack.

Star receiver Mike Evans had five catches for 51 yards as he begins his pursuit of a record 12th consecutive 1,000-yard season.

With the win, the Buccaneers are the only NFC South team to start 1-0\. Next up is a Monday night road matchup with the Houston Texans (0-1). Tampa Bay went 0-5 in primetime games last season. The last time these teams met, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 470 yards and five touchdowns in a 39-37 win in 2023.

The Bucs didn’t play their cleanest game against Atlanta, but their mental toughness in a close divisional road win may set the tone for the 2025 season.

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