The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to shake off a tough loss and get back on track, and a big part of that bounce-back effort involves rallying around a rookie who’s hit his first real NFL speed bump.
Late in Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints, rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a chance to tie the game but couldn’t haul in a critical fourth-quarter pass from Baker Mayfield. It was a tough moment for the first-round pick, who’s shown flashes of big-time potential this season. But instead of pointing fingers, Mayfield had his young receiver’s back immediately after the game - and on Monday, head coach Todd Bowles echoed that same support.
Getting Egbuka Back in Rhythm
Bowles knows Egbuka is pressing right now - and he also knows the best way to help a young playmaker is to get him involved early and often.
“Just getting some quick throws early, get him some easy catches and try to get him in the groove and get him in the rhythm,” Bowles said Monday. “He’s got to get himself in a rhythm, as well.”
That rhythm was missing against the Saints. Egbuka was targeted nine times but came down with just two catches for 15 yards.
It was his third straight game without a touchdown - a noticeable drop-off after he found the end zone six times in his first nine games. Whether it’s the so-called “rookie wall” or simply a rough patch, Bowles isn’t wavering in his belief.
“We trust him completely,” Bowles said. “He’s a great player for us.
So when your great players drop the ball, you just got to live with it. But you know, he’s hard on himself.
He’ll come back from that, and he’ll play better.”
That vote of confidence matters. In a locker room that’s trying to stay in the playoff hunt, knowing the coaching staff and quarterback still believe in you can be the difference between bouncing back or spiraling.
Bucs Looking to Snap Out of a Familiar Funk
Tampa Bay started the season 6-2. Now they’re 7-6.
If that slide feels familiar, it’s because this is the third straight season the Bucs have hit a mid-to-late season slump. And while they’re still tied atop the NFC South with the Carolina Panthers, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
“We lost [Sunday], and we’ve got to get over it,” Bowles said. “We’ve got to be big boys.
We've got to get over it and own what we did, and we’ve got to get better at things we need to get better at. We’ve got to look in the mirror.”
That message is as much about mindset as it is about execution. The Buccaneers have been here before - but as Bowles pointed out, “it’s different every single year.”
And this year, they don’t have time to dwell. They’ve got a short week and a Thursday night showdown with the Atlanta Falcons looming large.
At 4-9, Atlanta isn’t lighting up the standings, but divisional games rarely follow the script. The Bucs are 4.5-point favorites at home, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, but they’ll need to clean up the mistakes and come out sharp if they want to avoid another frustrating finish.
Meanwhile, Carolina - also sitting at 7-6 - heads to New Orleans to take on the 3-10 Saints this Sunday. With two head-to-head matchups still to come between Tampa Bay and Carolina (Week 16 and Week 18), the NFC South race is far from over.
What’s Next
Thursday night’s game against Atlanta is more than just a chance to right the ship - it’s an opportunity to show resilience. For Egbuka, it’s a shot at redemption. For the Bucs, it’s a chance to prove they can finish strong and not fade down the stretch again.
They’ve got the talent. They’ve got the experience. Now it’s about execution - and maybe a few early completions to No. 12 to get things rolling.