Crunch Time

On a scorching Sunday afternoon in Tampa, Raymond James Stadium was once again a house of horrors for the visiting Eagles, who fell 33-16.

The Bucs got touchdown passes from Baker Mayfield on their first two possessions against an Eagles defense that was way healthier than the offense.

A muffed punt led to another Bucs touchdown that put Tampa Bay ahead 21-0 and well on the way to the win in a rematch of last year’s NFC Wild Card game, won handily by the Bucs in Tampa.

Leading the way for the Eagles offense was Saquon Barkley, who racked up 84 rushing yards and 116 all-purpose yards on 10 carries, and tight Dallas Goedert, who reeled in seven of his eight targets for 62 yards.

Defensively, cornerback Darius Slay and safety Tristin McCollum – who replaced Reed Blankenship (illness) — led the way in tackles with nine and eight, respectively.

Defensive ends Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham each registered a sack on Mayfield, while cornerback Avonte Maddox logged a pair of pass breakups but the pass rush was largely ineffective and the coverage even worse.

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, getting hit here by Chris Braswell, was hit often against the Bucs’ defense.

Let’s get to the observations:

* Inactive for the Eagles: WR DeVonta Smith (concussion), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring), QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), LB Devin White (personal matter), RT Lane Johnson (concussion), OL Trevor Keegan, DT Byron Young.

* The Eagles came out flat to start, unveiling a passive defense providing little resistance to the Baker Mayfield-led Bucs offense. With plenty of distance between defenders, Bucs wide receivers roamed freely as Mayfield went 8-of-9 for 62 yards, capping the drive with a 2-yard TD toss from Mayfield to WR Mike Evans, who  had a step on S C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

* Poor tackling was a common theme throughout for DC Vic Fangio’s defense, creeping into the double digits, as missed tackles from the second and third levels mounted. Specifically, DBs Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox and Gardner-Johnson whiffed on key plays, allowing the Bucs offense to gain momentum and putting the Eagles in a bind.

* Though undermanned in terms of offensive weaponry — he still had Dallas Goedert, Saquon Barkley and Jahan Dotson — QB Jalen Hurts failed to meet the moment. He held onto the ball too long and showed poor pocket awareness, fumbling twice and losing one, and turning the ball over in the red zone for the third time this season. Hurts again struggled against a blitz-heavy defense presided over by Bucs HC Todd Bowles, who historically has had his number.

* All three of the Eagles’ most prominent coaches — HC Nick Sirianni, OC Kellen Moore and DC Vic Fangio — had a hand in the dismantling. It all begins, and ends, with Sirianni, who simply didn’t have his team ready to play. Wasn’t crazy about Moore’s offensive game plan early, especially the lack of balance. Moving away from Barkley early when the game was still within reach was puzzling, much like his inability to scheme players open. Fangio unveiled a far more passive game plan than the one from last week, with Mayfield able to sit back and pick apart the second and third levels and establish a rhythmic passing game.

* Tampa Bay, which entered Week 4 having registered only two sacks through the first three games, rolled up six against an Eagles’ offensive line that appeared to break like a dam. Notably, RB Saquon Barkley struggled to pick up a blitzing Lavonte David, who strip-sacked Hurts for a turnover. And Bucs LB YaYa Diaby got around RT Fred Johnson to strip-sack Hurts, though Johnson would recover.

* While the trade for WR Jahan Dotson was well received by most – some even proclaiming the Eagles to boast the best three-deep receiving corps – the former Commanders first-round pick  has severely underwhelmed. If ever there was a game to emerge – or even offer signs of optimism – it would be on a day without A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, especially more than a month into his Eagles tenure. Instead, Dotson managed just 11 yards on two receptions (4 targets). Given the draft capital forked over in the acquisition, the early returns are troubling.

* Thought C Cam Jurgens had a strong game, specifically being at the center of the short-yardage scrums as well as the springing RB Saquon Barkley on a 59-yard run to open the second half, but we found out how the Eagles would replace him in-game if he was forced to the sideline. Jurgens exited briefly with cramps. It wasn’t veteran OL Nick Gates, whom the team signed to the 53 to serve as the backup center, but rather LG Landon Dickerson who slid over. Second-year OL Tyler Steen, who performed well in New Orleans, replaced Dickerson.

* Noticed a change to the Eagles’ punt protection, on the heels of last Sunday’s punt block in the Superdome. While rookie RB Will Shipley remained the punt protector, fellow rookie EDGE Jalyx Hunt replaced Nolan Smith at the far left side of the line.

As for the punt return unit, well, the first game without PR Britain Covey, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a shoulder injury, left much to be desired, though DeJean is absolved of the blemishes. Executional lapses plagued STC Michael Clay’s unit, as CB Isaiah Rodgers blocked a Bucs player into DeJean, returning possession to Tampa Bay. On a separate play, CB Kelee Ringo, a gunner on the play, ran into DeJean.

Both players did, however, atone for their mistakes, as Rodgers blocked a third quarter extra point attempt, with Ringo scooping up the loose ball and returning it to complete the two-point play.

* This was a game in which the edge rushers should have theoretically been able to pounce on a porous Bucs offensive line but both Bryce Huff and Nolan Smith were non-factors and once again were blanked on the stat sheet. Veteran EDGEs Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham each registered sacks.

I’m curious to see what Huff’s snap counts were, but it appears he’s merely undertaking a situational role. Perhaps the bye week conjures some reconsideration and assessment in terms of his utilization. It’s worth mentioning Haason Reddick also started slow last season, but Huff doesn’t have the same resume and hasn’t yet proven himself to be a full-time player.

* Veteran WR John Ross, elevated from the practice squad and appearing in his first regular season game since December, 2021, reeled in his first reception — a 6-yarder in the fourth quarter — since Dec. 12, 2021.

Meanwhile, vet WR Parris Campbell, also elevated from the practice squad, snared his first touchdown reception in almost two years — a 1-yarder in the waning moments before the break, his first since Nov. 13, 2022.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.