On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) 33-16 at Raymond James Stadium.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Philly’s ‘Big 3’ and their outstanding performances on Sunday:
-Another solid performance by RB Saquon Barkley. He led the team with 116 scrimmage yards (84 rushing, 32 receiving), including a big 59-yard run to set up the Eagles’ second touchdown. Barkley has produced 100-plus scrimmage yards in each of the season’s first four games, making him the second player in Eagles history to accomplish that feat. However, it wasn’t enough.
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Honorable mention:
-Brandon Graham recorded his first sack of the season on Sunday. Graham is just the second player in Eagles history to produce a sack in their age 36-or-older season
End of the Day:
This was a rough watch for Eagles fans worldwide. Baker Mayfield shredded Philly’s defense, completing 30-of-47 passes for 347 yards and two passing touchdowns, and he added a rushing touchdown. Tampa Bay racked up 445 total yards.
Again, the Eagles did not get much of a pass rush, and that will have to improve if this defense wants to make an impact. Last week against the Saints, the Eagles’ defense took a step forward. Against the Bucs, they took a step back.
Offensively, the struggles on this side of the ball are not surprising. Three of the team’s best players were out, A.j. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Lane Johnson, and they lost Cam Jurgens in the second half. However, Jalen Hurts(18-30, 158, two total touchdowns), who lost a big fumble in the third quarter when the team was driving and trailing 30-16, has to do a better job protecting the football. He had at least one turnover in each of the team’s first four games, nine straight games with a turnover, and 27 turnovers since the start of the 2023 season, which is the most in the NFL.
The Eagles lost the turnover battle for the 12th straight game.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles has Hurts’ number. At times, Hurts, who was sacked six times, did not do a decent job of recognizing blitzes, but part of that could have been a byproduct of a banged-up offensive line.
Including the postseason, Hurts is now 1-4 against Tampa Bay.
The Eagles head into the bye at the right time. This team needs to get healthy, and the bye week should give some of their key players an opportunity to get right.
Next up:
The Eagles enjoy the bye week and will host the Browns in Week 6.
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