Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) – Philadelphia Eagles (3-0): 11-25
The Eagles’ 2023 defense is still as impressive as the one that took the franchise to the Super Bowl last season. With the added bonus of a new asset: Jalen Carter. The rookie defensive tackle only recorded half a sack, but he regularly put pressure on Baker Mayfield (15/25, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 int).
Deprived of ground play (41 yards in total) and under pressure, the Buccaneers quarterback spent an evening without solutions. The Buccaneers finished the game with only 174 yards on the clock. They only had the ball for 21 minutes, compared to 38 for Philadelphia. Tampa’s only touchdown arrived at the very end of the match, much too late, when Philadelphia was already leading 25 to 3.
Jalen Hurts jostled but the Eagles attack too powerful
The Eagles really needed the defense to be on top. Because Tampa was also there to deliver a serious match. From their first three possessions, Philadelphia only managed three small points. We had to wait until the end of the second quarter for Jalen Hurts (23/37, 277 yards, 1 TD, 2 int) to find Olamide Zaccheaus (2 rec, 58 yards) for the first touchdown of the match (3-10).
The defense intercepted Mayfield in stride to offer a superb possession to Hurts and his troop. But the Buccaneers hang on, and Hurts is intercepted in turn.
The game turned into a defensive battle, as Philadelphia regained the ball again two actions later, this time on a Mayfield fumble. Jake Elliott added a spot kick to put the visitors up 13-3 at the break.
Philadelphia gets their hands on the ball
Returning from the locker room, the Eagles have clear intentions: they exhaust the opponent. More than five minutes for their first offensive. D’Andre Swift (16 races, 130 yards) uses his physique by chaining races, AJ Brown (9 rec, 131 yards) occupies the air and Hurts completes the affair on the ground (3-20). After an opposing punt, do it again. The races continue, but Hurts is intercepted while looking for Devonta Smith (4 rec, 28 yards).
The reprieve is short-lived for the Buccaneers, who concede a safety, then a field goal (3-25), before Mike Evans (5 rec, 60 yards, 1 TD) saves the honor.
Without going perfectly, the Eagles remain undefeated. Tampa is coming back to earth a little.
