We have a long, long way to go in the 2024 season

TAMPA, Fla. – As much as the Eagles pulled off an all-phase win in New Orleans a week earlier, all three of the team’s phases struggled Sunday at Raymond James Stadium as Philadelphia lost to the Buccaneers 33-16, moving to 2-0 on the season. 2 fell behind.

“It wasn’t the best performance for us, but what I like is that we came out of this game healthy. We’re 2-2 and the question is, ‘What are you doing?’ It’s all about how you react and as long as we don’t point fingers and try to get better, we should get stronger by the end of the season,” Brandon Graham said after the game.

The Eagles very quickly found themselves in a hole that got deeper and deeper as the first half progressed, and when they had a chance to reduce the deficit and perhaps get back into the game, that was a crucial clue and the defense’s inability to Getting out of the hole prevented Field from making a possible comeback.

Injuries certainly played a role in a struggling offense that was missing three key starters (wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith and right tackle Lane Johnson), and Philadelphia’s defense couldn’t hold its own against a Tampa Bay offense that moved the ball release enough of the field, a quick passing game and an efficient running attack.

Some observations from a game that sends the Eagles into bye week and answers some real questions as they restart the season in two weeks against Cleveland at Lincoln Financial Field…

1. Slow start from the defense… and it continued

Tampa Bay’s game plan was clear from the start: The Bucs drove 79 yards in 10 plays for a first-drive touchdown, and quarterback Baker Mayfield led the way with 8 completions in 9 attempts for 62 yards to move the ball quickly out The Eagles simply couldn’t respond to the three-step drops and short passing game that Mayfield had implemented so perfectly. The Eagles failed to generate a pass rush, allowed four first downs and were unable to stop the Bucs on two third downs. The missed tackles hurt the Eagles early on and unfortunately continued throughout the game.

Then on its next possession, Tampa Bay ran 80 yards in 5 plays and Mayfield completed all four of his passes for 76 yards and in an instant the score was 14-0. Mayfield completed 13 of his first 14 passes for 144 yards.

After such a great game in New Orleans, the Eagles allowed Tampa Bay to gain a total of 445 net yards, 29 first downs and possess the football for 36 minutes and 19 seconds.