Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4) – Philadelphia Eagles (5): 32-9
No, the Eagles did not find their football in the playoffs. Taken by the throat from the start of the match by a good Baker Mayfield (22/36, 337 yards, 3 TDs), the Eagles never seemed able to come back.
The Buccaneers dominated the match from start to finish and in all sectors. More effective in attack, more solid in defense. There was no photo.
The key moment: Trey Palmer knocks out Philadelphia for good
Philadelphia already didn't really seem able to come back. But the scoreboard was relatively soft (18-9). Trey Palmer broke that, literally. At the end of the third quarter, the receiver caught a short pass, broke a tackle and ran 56 yards to score the touchdown to make it 25-9. Far too much for the Eagles in slow motion.
ONCE AGAIN, HOW Y’ALL FEELING BUCS FANS?! 😱
📺: #PHIvsTB on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/rFlj59UzNi pic.twitter.com/VtoFNKaLZ5— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2024
Film of the match: Tampa on the floor
We didn't have to wait long to find out if the Eagles' defense was better. 65 yards and a field goal on the first offensive of the game for Tampa. 79 yards in 4 actions and a touchdown on their second possession. And here are the Buccaneers leading 10-0. Then 13-0 midway through the second quarter.
But Philadelphia is waking up a little. On the foot first (13-3), then with a touchdown from Dallas Goedert (4 rec, 21 yards, 1 TD) on a pass from Jalen Hurts (25/35, 250 yards, 1 TD). But the two-point conversion is missed; At halftime, Tampa leads 16-9.
The start of the second half is completely blocked. Four punts follow one another. Jalen Hurts is relaunching the brand… but not in a good way. Sanctioned for getting rid of the ball in his own end zone, he receives a safety. Tampa recovers the ball and Trey Palmer gives the coup de grace with his long distance touchdown (25-9). Chris Godwin (4 rec, 45 yards, 1 TD) even adds a final touchdown (32-9) for good measure.
The MVP: Baker Mayfield (QB, Buccaneers)
You can never really replace Tom Brady, but Baker Mayfield has come very close. After leading his team to the playoffs, the former Browns quarterback did not let up his efforts. On the contrary. He had an excellent match. Aggressive without doing too much, he did not lose any balls and exploited the weakness of the opposing defense well.
He didn't even have to rely heavily on a rather discreet Mike Evans (3 rec, 48 yards). It was Cade Otton (8 rec, 89 yards) who had the most balls.
After a 2022 season full of doubts between the Panthers and the Rams, Mayfield is definitely back in the group of starting quarterbacks in the NFL. He who only signed for one season with Tampa may have just assured himself a future… and a bunch of dollars.
The flop: where did Philadelphia's defense go?
A mess of missed tackles that allow the Buccaneers receivers to wander. 426 yards conceded in a playoff game. 6/14 allowed on third attempt. The end of a season in sinking form for a Philadelphia defense.
The Buccaneers gained 219 yards receiving. A symbol of the terrible difficulty Eagles defenders have in putting anyone on the ground.
The stat: 2.8 yards per carry for the Eagles
If further proof was needed, it was in the trenches and in the intensity that Philadelphia lost. Like the defense, the ground game was the winning Eagles' strength. He didn't do much this Sunday with 15 carries for 42 yards, or 2.8 small yards per ground attempt.
And now ?
The Eagles were 10 wins and 1 loss after eleven weeks. They then won only one of their last seven matches. The defense never raised its head. Completely the opposite. In the end, only Jalen Hurts seems to emerge unscathed from the disaster. Without AJ Brown, he relied heavily on Devonta Smith (8 rec, 148 yards) and did what he could. He could have to deal without Jason Kelce, who seemed very emotional at the end of the match, with the look of a player who seemed to be saying goodbye.
Tampa Bay will face the Lions in Detroit. It will be difficult, the Buccaneers will not be favorites, but they showed this Monday that they have all the weapons to bother the Lions if they have a good day. Baker Mayfield will reunite with Jared Goff, another former first choice in the Draft let go by his first team.
