The 2025 NFL season is officially underway, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started it off with a thrilling 23-20 road win over the Atlanta Falcons, thanks to a late missed field goal from Falcons' kicker, Younghoe Koo.
Four takeaways from the Buccaneers' 23-20 win over the Falcons:
1. Emeka Egbuka delivers in his debut
All eyes were on rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka, and he didn’t disappoint. The first-round pick made an immediate impact with four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 25-yarder with just over a minute left. As the No. 2 receiver behind Mike Evans, Egbuka proved he can be a reliable playmaker in big moments.
2. Defense locks down Atlanta’s top target
Drake London has been a thorn in Tampa Bay’s side for years, but Sunday, the Bucs’ cornerbacks were up to the task. Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean combined to hold London to eight catches for 55 yards on 15 targets. McCollum, coming off a contract extension, played tight coverage all game and helped force quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to look elsewhere for options.
3. Offensive line adjusts on the fly
Tampa Bay made three major line changes before kickoff, including starting Michael Jordan at left guard and moving Graham Barton to left tackle. Despite some early struggles, the reshuffled line provided enough protection for Baker Mayfield to connect with his receivers and gave the run game a chance to get going. Quick in-game adjustments proved crucial.
4. Special teams and situational plays swing the game
Veteran punter Riley Dixon had an immediate impact with four punts averaging 51.3 yards, including two inside the 20. Kameron Johnson also electrified with a 54-yard punt return in the third quarter, setting up a Bucky Irving touchdown. Add in a clutch fourth-and-1 conversion to Mike Evans, and it was clear that aggressive, smart situational football helped Tampa Bay pull out the win.
Up next for Tampa Bay: Monday, September 14 vs. Houston Texans (7:00 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN)
