Buccaneers 33-16 Eagles (September 29, 2024) Game Recap

TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to a 3-1 start and in position to win their fourth straight NFC South title.

“We had a good quarter, and that’s all,” coach Todd Bowles said Sunday after Baker Mayfield scored three touchdowns and the Bucs sacked Jalen Hurts six times in a 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“The season lasts four quarters,” Bowles added. “We still have three quarters to go and we have to perform and play like this every quarter.”

Mayfield threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns while Mike Evans became the Buccaneers’ career leading scorer by dominating the second leg of a lopsided NFC wild-card game that they won 32-9 last January against the injury-plagued Eagles (2-2). .

Mayfield bounced back from a poor performance in a loss to Denver the previous week, completing 30 of 47 passes without an interception and the offense scored a touchdown on its first possession for the first time in 21 games. Evans’ 2-yard scoring reception capped the 10-play, 79-yard drive that set the tone for the Bucs, who outgained the Eagles by 254 yards to zero to build a 24-0 lead.

“I definitely wanted to get the taste (of last week) out of our mouths,” Mayfield said. “It started quickly because the boys were just locked in. We came out with a head-to-head mentality. Everyone was adamant about what the plan was and we implemented it. This has to be the case every week. This is how we have to start.”

Evans, who finished the game with eight receptions for 94 yards, moved into first place on Tampa Bay’s scoring list with 596, ahead of Martin Gramatica (592). Mayfield also threw a TD pass to Trey Palmer in the first quarter and scored on a 1-yard run on a fourth-and-goal to make the score 21-0 early in the second quarter.

The Bucs had a 287-67 yardage lead at halftime, with most of Philadelphia’s offense coming on a 14-play drive that Hurts capped off with a 1-yard TD toss to Parris Campbell.

Tampa Bay ran 22 plays in Eagles territory before the Philadelphia offense finally crossed the 50-yard line in the second quarter. But despite the statistical disparity, the Eagles managed to get back into the game after Saquon Barkley started the second half with a 59-yard run to the Bucs 11.

That led to a 1-yard TD run by Hurts, making the deficit 24-7 at halftime. The Eagles gave themselves a little more hope when Kelee Ringo scored on a blocked extra-point kick on Tampa Bay’s next touchdown and stormed to the other end of the field for a defensive two-point conversion that cut the Bucs’ lead to 30-16 .

Hurts took the kickoff and took the Eagles to the Bucs 19 before linebacker Lavonte David sacked him, forcing a fumble that essentially killed the chance for a successful comeback.

“I think overall I just need to play better,” said Hurts, who played without injured starting receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith and right tackle Lane Johnson. “It starts with me when it comes to getting into the end zone and leading the charge. The only thing I can say is that I need to get better.”

Tampa Bay finished the game with six sacks after allowing just two in the first three games. Hurts fell to 1-4 in five career starts against the Bucs, including two playoff losses.

Barkley rushed for 94 yards on 10 carries. Hurts finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and no interceptions.

“We didn’t play well enough and that always starts with me. “If we go out there and lay an egg and we’re down 24-0, that’s going to be a burden for me,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.

Back in the house

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady was back at Raymond James Stadium as part of the FOX television team. He played the final three seasons of his career with the Bucs, leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title and two NFC South championships before retiring after the 2022 season. Brady stood in the broadcast booth and thanked the cheering fans as the Bucs officially welcomed him back during the two-minute warning in the first half.

Injuries

Eagles: In addition to Brown (hamstring injury), Smith (concussion) and Johnson (concussion), LB Devin White (personal matter) was also inactive. S Reed Blankenship (illness) had to sit out the second half. DT Jalen Carter and C Cam Jurgens (cramps) missed time in the fourth quarter as the temperature on the field exceeded 100 degrees.

Buccaneers: All-Pro S Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), DL Calijah Kancey (calf) and RT Luke Goedeke (concussion) were inactive. … Palmer left the game late in the first quarter to be checked for a concussion. … LB SirVocea Dennis (shoulder) left in the second quarter and did not return.

Next

Eagles: Bye week before hosting Cleveland on Oct. 13.

Buccaneers: At NFC South rival Atlanta on Thursday night.

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