The Eagles went down 14-0 early and could never make it a game against the Buccaneers
One of the most unbelievable stats of the Philadelphia Eagles season entering their week 4 matchup against the Buccaneers was that they had yet to score a point in the first quarter – the only team in the league to fail to do so. Unfortunately, that didn’t change on Sunday against the Buccaneers who raced out to a 14-0 lead as the first quarter came to a close.
The defense from last week – the one that held the then-number-one scoring offense in the league to just 12 points – was nowhere to be found early in this one. Baker Mayfield looked as if Tom Brady came down from the booth to play again for his Buccaneers. Mayfield was 12/13 for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns after just 10 minutes of football. He picked apart the Eagles’ defense ending 26/34 for 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 114.5 passer rating.
With the defense reeling, the offense needed to step up. Unfortunately, all the offense could muster was two straight three-and-outs to give the ball right back to an impressive Baker Mayfield. On the first play for the offense, Hurts evaded pressure, rolled to his right, and missed a wide-open Saquon Barkley streaking down the sideline for what would have been a walk-in touchdown.
The Eagles’ offense was down their top two receivers AJ Brown and Devonta Smith and also missing arguably their most important offensive lineman in Lane Johnson – who was a late scratch after not clearing concussion protocol. With the litany of injuries on the offensive side of the ball, the team could not get anything going until it was too late against Tampa.
Aside from the injuries, an even bigger issue for the Eagles’ offense is Hurts’ continued knack for back-breaking turnovers. With the Eagles in the red zone and down 30-16 with just over 2 minutes left in the third, Hurts stepped up in the pocket to evade the blitz only to be stripped from behind by the same rusher he juked.
Hurts now has at least one turnover in every game this season, a turnover in 9 straight games, and 27 total turnovers since the start of last season.
The Eagles are off next week as they have an early week 5 bye this year. The Birds will look to get rested up and return the week following at full strength for their second home game of the year against the Cleveland Browns.