Bucs rookie standout Emeka Egbuka’s explosive homecoming helps lift Tampa Bay to big road win in Seattle

It was a huge day for the Washington state native.

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is having a whale of a rookie season for the team. And on the road Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, the Bucs’ talented young offensive standout looked like he felt just at home inside Lumen Field.

Well, that’s because he did. The Seattle area native had a contingent of family and friends in attendance to cheer him on and witness the Bucs’ last second 38-35 win over the Seahawks, and Egbuka played a huge role in the outcome.

Washington native WR Emeka Egbuka totaled 7 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown in the Bucs’ win over the Seahawks

Egbuka, who hails from Tacoma and played high school football in nearby Steilacoom, exploded in the second half as both teams shook off a somewhat sluggish offensive performance in the first half and turned the game into a shootout. He found the end zone in the third quarter in an unlikely spot. With Tampa Bay facing 3rd and 15 from the Seattle 20, he got past the defender deep and pulled in a 20-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone. He then added two more points on the conversion.

After a Seattle touchdown to draw even at 21, Egbuka struck again the following drive. After grabbing a pass for a gain of 19, he beat the Seattle defense again for a gain of 57 yards down to the 2, again on third and long.

Down 35-28 with a little over 3 minutes remaining, the Bucs do what they do with the game on the line – get the points they need, and Egbuka again was crucial on the game-tying drive. He got a chunk play of 25 yards to get to the Seattle 45 and jump start a realistic scoring opportunity. He added a 9-yard catch in the red zone before Baker Mayfield found Sterling Shepard on the next play to tie the game up. After a Lavonte David interception, the Bucs walked it off on a 39-yard field goal by Connor McLaughlin.

They say you can never go home again, but Egbuka proved on Sunday in Seattle that that’s not always the case.

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