The Week 3 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa saw the Eagles establish their superiority against the Buccaneers.
On Monday night, the Eagles’ defense displayed remarkable skill and played a big role in their 25-11 victory. Notably, running back D’Andre Swift kept up his good form by surpassing 100 rushing yards for the second game in a row.
Philadelphia Eagles (3-0): The Eagles put on a strong performance despite quarterback Jalen Hurts experiencing flu-like symptoms right before the game. Hurts had a split performance against the Buccaneers, scoring touchdowns both via the air and on the ground but also recording two interceptions. He made 23 of 37 completions for 277 yards.
The Eagles’ ground attack achieved an incredible 201 running yards, a stunning performance given the Bucs’ fourth-ranked run defense, which had only allowed 54 yards per game. The Eagles’ defense also made significant takeaways. A.J. Brown, a wide receiver, also had a stellar performance, racking up 131 receiving yards and nine grabs.
The Eagles are one of only three unbeaten teams in the NFL, even though they recognize they haven’t yet hit their optimum performance.
Positive Trend: With their consistently strong ground attack, the Eagles entered as the NFL’s second-ranked rushing offense. Following his career-best effort of 175 running yards against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, D’Andre Swift continued to shine with 130 yards on 16 touches. After playing only a little part in the season opener, he has established himself as Philadelphia’s starting running back.
Major Plays: Newcomers When it mattered most, both Sydney Brown and Jalen Carter contributed crucial defensive plays. In the second quarter, Sydney Brown, an aggressive safety from Illinois, forced an incomplete pass in the end zone corner to thwart what appeared to be an easy Mike Evans touchdown. After making a catch over the middle later in the quarter, Jalen Carter continued to have a strong start to his rookie career by stripping Rachaad White, who was unprepared. Due to Carter’s performance, which reflects the great start of this year’s draft class, he is currently a front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Notable Fact: Jalen Hurts broke Cam Newton’s record of 28 running touchdowns in his 48th game on Monday, becoming the quarterback with the most rushing scores (29) in his first 50 career games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): Despite having a chance to become more credible and hand the defending Super Bowl champions their first setback, the Bucs fell short of expectations.
The offense struggled a much, despite the Bucs’ defense managing two interceptions and numerous red zone stops.
For instance, with 3:46 left in the third quarter, backup cornerback Dee Delaney intercepted Jalen Hurts at the Tampa Bay 1-yard line while filling in for the injured Jamel Dean. Running back Rachaad White was stopped in the end zone on the very next play for a safety. Additionally, two plays after Devin White’s second-quarter pick-six of Hurts, Rachaad White fumbled on the Tampa Bay 37-yard line.
The Buccaneers’ evening was disappointing as they were outgained, 472 to 174, in total yards.
Baker Mayfield and his receiving group faced difficulties throughout the contest, according to the quarterback analysis. Following early errors by tight end Cade Otton and safety Mike Evans, safety Sydney Brown made an outstanding play to thwart Evans’ attempt in the end zone. Before halftime, Mayfield intercepted a pass meant for Chris Godwin, his first of the year. In contrast, Mayfield and Evans regained their groove in the fourth quarter, connecting on passes of 24 and 22 yards before Evans scored from one yard out. With 15 completions on 25 attempts for 146 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, Mayfield finished the game.
Trend Worth Noting: The Bucs’ run game, which was ranked last in 2022, has yet to show signs of progress. They only managed to gain 41 rushing yards on 17 attempts for an average of just 2.1 yards per carry.
Positive: Despite difficulties, the Bucs’ defense, which included an injured Devin White and an out-of-the-game Carlton Davis at cornerback, only allowed the Eagles one score in five trips into the end zone. This was a notable victory over an Eagles squad that had previously scored five touchdowns in the red zone prior to Week 3.
