Spadaro: 6 storylines to observe in Eagles at Buccaneers – Philadelphia Eagles

The 2025 season continues to get higher and higher. One other week deep and the Eagles are as soon as once more (for the third time) enjoying a crew with out a loss. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-0, winners of three video games within the last minute of every, a playoff crew a yr in the past, and one which believes it has the products to make a deep postseason run forward.
In Tampa for one more season (that is the sixth time in 5 seasons the groups will meet, with 4 of these video games at Raymond James Stadium), the Eagles know they need to carry their “A” recreation to defeat the Bucs.
There’s a lot to like about this matchup, so let’s dig into the storylines for Sunday and Tampa, the place the temperatures will probably be excessive as will the vitality from Eagles followers taking up within the stands …
We all know that Tampa Bay likes to blitz – the Bucs have a blitz charge of practically 40 p.c this season, a top-6 quantity within the NFL. The Bucs have blitzed quarterback Jalen Hurts on greater than 40 p.c of his dropbacks of their earlier conferences. Tampa Bay brings it, and behind that does a superb job of disguising coverages and enjoying robust protection.
The blitz recreation is gaining all the eye, however the reality is that Tampa Bay has among the finest defenses within the league.
Interval. Full cease.
“He is received each completely different protection within the e-book. They do an amazing job of disguising each completely different blitz, so we have to verify our communication, our factors, all the pieces we do, is on the identical web page,” tight finish Dallas Goedert stated. “It comes right down to being on the identical web page and that is actually what we have been engaged on all week.”
However Tampa Bay just isn’t a one-trick pony on protection. The Bucs enable simply 3.6 yards per speeding try, a superb quantity. They’re large and stout up entrance and haven’t allowed any crew to achieve the 100-yard speeding mark in a recreation in 11 straight outings and never a single operating again has gained 50 yards in a recreation this season towards Tampa Bay.
Essential quantity right here: Within the 5 earlier video games right here since Head Coach Nick Sirianni and Hurts have been collectively, the Eagles have scored a complete of 10 factors within the first quarter, whereas the Bucs have scored a complete of 52 factors. Beginning in a gap towards this type of protection that can assault, assault, after which, with a lead, assault much more as a result of the offense is leaning in a one-dimensional manner, is harmful.
Within the three video games this season, the Eagles have scored seven factors every time. That could be very encouraging. We have seen up to now the Eagles’ offense search for extra traction within the early motion, however 2025 has been a fertile offensive floor on the scoreboard within the first quarter. Let’s maintain it going right here, as a result of the Eagles with a lead – like with each crew – are in a much more favorable place to win.
This simply implies that each groups have some accidents coming into the sport. Philadelphia will not have edge standout Nolan Smith, however Sirianni and the gamers have talked all week concerning the depth at that place. We are going to see how they determine to unfold out the snaps however they’ve loads of choices with Jalyx Hunt, Za’Darius Smith, Joshua Uche, Patrick Johnson, Azeez Ojulari, and Ogbo Okoronkwo. They’re going to look to that group to set the sting towards the operating recreation and get after the quarterback right here. Cornerback is one other space to observe with Jakorian Bennett on Injured Reserve and with Adoree’ Jackson working through a groin injury. There are a selection of different gamers who’re bumped up and bruised and, hey, that is the best way it really works within the NFL. Each roster spot issues. Each participant is right here for a cause.
Talking of Mayfield, he is one of the vital productive quarterbacks within the NFL proper now and the Eagles know they’ve lots to deal with right here. He is actually good, with 6 landing passes and nil interceptions this season. Taking part in with a makeshift offensive line that returns All-Professional Tristan Wirfs for this recreation after he missed the opening three, Mayfield has solely been sacked six instances. He strikes properly and he retains performs alive.
“We now have to be disciplined. No open lanes. Rush collectively,” defensive finish Za’Darius Smith stated. “Rise up on him so he cannot see. We will not let him break the pocket.”
Tampa Bay will not have WR1 Mike Evans and will not have Chris Godwin who’s getting back from an ankle damage, however the Bucs discover methods. They use their tight ends. They use their backs. They run the ball aggressively.
The protection goes to be examined in loads of methods right here.
The crew arrived in Tampa on Friday night time and can apply on Saturday within the warmth of Florida, making an attempt to higher acclimate to the searing temperatures anticipated on Sunday. Philadelphia practiced in temperatures within the excessive 70s and low 80s all week and we aren’t that removed from the warmer days of August, so …
What does all of it imply? The Eagles have been hydrating and so they have been making ready. So we’ll see. The Eagles must play an amazing soccer recreation and put together for a bodily battle and all that it entails. Each groups are enjoying within the warmth. Could the crew that performs greatest on Sunday win.
Damaged file alert: The issues that matter, matter. And they’re …
See the Eagles get able to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 of the common season.
QB Jalen Hurts
WR Jahan Dotson
QB Tanner McKee
CB Quinyon Mitchell
WR A.J. Brown
QB Jalen Hurts
P Braden Mann & Okay Jake Elliott
Head Coach Nick Sirianni
DE Za’Darius Smith
WR A.J. Brown
CB Quinyon Mitchell
QB Jalen Hurts
QB Jalen Hurts
P Braden Mann
There are some questions, nevertheless, as three gamers have been positioned on Injured Reserve on Wednesday. 
The Eagles have proved that they’ll win in a large number of how. Sunday presents one other problem with the Bucs and Todd Bowles’ protection.
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Jordan Davis performed a career-high 53 snaps and impacted the sport in all 4 quarters. 
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