Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds will cover six topics to preview upcoming Bucs games, what’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponents, how Tampa Bay will win or lose, and some key matchups to watch each week.
The Bucs dropped to 2-1 on the season after a 26-7 loss at home to the previously winless Broncos in Week 3. Tampa Bay is coming off a back-to-back home series against the Eagles and will be looking to get back on track before traveling to Atlanta and New Orleans for two crucial NFC South division games.
What’s at stake for the Buccaneers?
Buccaneers RT Luke Goedeke – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
The Buccaneers need to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Broncos where they struggled on both offense and defense. It’s one thing to lose consecutive games, but it’s another to lose consecutive games at home. Playoff teams usually win at home, but the Buccaneers need to be better at defending their home field.
The fact that the Buccaneers were outplayed on both ends of the floor against the Broncos is concerning, and a better, more physical team is coming to Tampa Bay this week. The team needs to regain its confidence and play much better than they did against Denver, win or lose. Not only did the Broncos play better than the Buccaneers, they played with more intensity. Hopefully this young team has learned a valuable lesson not to take weaker, less-lucky teams too lightly.
Thanks to wins over Washington and Detroit, the Bucks have a 2-0 record in the NFC. A loss to an AFC powerhouse like Denver on Sunday wouldn’t hurt them as much when it comes to late-season playoff tiebreakers or postseason seeding, but a loss to an NFC team like Philadelphia would. That’s why a comeback win and a 3-0 record in the conference would be ideal.
What’s at stake for the Eagles?
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Eagles are two points away from falling to 3-0. After a dominant win over Green Bay in the season opener, Philadelphia lost 22-21 at home to Atlanta on Monday Night Football. The Eagles bounced back with a stunning 15-12 win over the Saints last Sunday in New Orleans. The Saints were averaging more than 40 points per game, but Vic Fangio’s defense held them to fewer than two touchdowns.
Philadelphia had 460 yards of total offense, but only two runs by Saquon Barkley, who ran for touchdowns and two points by Barkley in the fourth quarter. Head coach Nick Sirianni will take over the play-calling responsibilities as Philadelphia is averaging just 23.3 points per game thus far. Barkley is the focal point of the offense, and that will continue to be the case due to injuries to the wide receiver corps.
AJ Brown missed Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, and fellow starter DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion in New Orleans. In fact, the win was costly, as Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson left the game with a concussion and right guard Mekhi Becton left the game with a hand injury. Cornerback Darius Slay also left the game with an injury six minutes to go. The Eagles, like the Buccaneers, enter Sunday’s game with some injuries.
If the Buccaneers want to win…
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield, RB Rachad White and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay gave up 37 points in the season opener against Washington, 20 points against Detroit and one touchdown against Denver. The Buccaneers need to learn to find the end zone more often, whether through the air, on the ground or with a balanced attack. Quarterback Baker Mayfield needs to regain his composure and develop a better pocket presence against the Eagles, who often dropped into seven-man coverage on Sunday and rushed four. It would be a boost for the team if starting right tackle Luke Goedeke returns from a concussion this week and clears the concussion protocol.
Mayfield was sacked multiple times and left a clean pocket too early, taxing the offensive line and causing them to miss open receivers down the field. The Buccaneers’ longest pass of the game was just 13 yards, which is outrageous considering the weapons in Tampa Bay’s passing game. Mike Evans was targeted just three times, which is criminal and needs to change this Sunday. The Buccaneers also need to use running back Bucky Irving. Or at least give him more carries, which is what he got for his production. Irving is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and leads the team with 154 yards rushing.
Defensively, the Buccaneers need to be more flashy. Through three games, Tampa Bay has recorded just two sacks and two interceptions. Last week against Denver, the team recorded neither a sack nor an interception. It’s time for the Buccaneers defense to get angry, win the turnover battle and collapse Jalen Hurts’ pocket, but they must contain him and not give him an escape route. The Buccaneers will have their hands full slowing down Saquon Barkley, much less stopping him.
The Eagles need to win…
Eagles SS Reed Blankenship – Photo courtesy of USA Today
The Eagles have scored eight touchdowns so far this year, five of which have come from rookie running back Saquon Barkley — four rushing and one receiving. Barkley has also converted two two-point conversions. In fact, Barkley scored all 15 of Philadelphia’s points in Philadelphia’s 15-12 comeback win at New Orleans last Sunday. If the Eagles can field Barkley against the Buccaneers, they’ll have a comfortable shot at their third win of the season. Barkley has already rushed for 351 yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
Philadelphia will be without starting wide receivers AJ Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion) and third receiver Britten Covey (shoulder). That means Jalen Hurts will have to rely on tight end Dallas Goedert, who led the team with 17 receptions for 239 yards, as well as newly traded Jahan Dotson and rookie Johnny Wilson. Hurts will need to improve his passing ability and play without his top targets, as he has just four interceptions and three touchdowns through three games.
Defensively, the Eagles shut down a high-powered Saints offense, holding New Orleans to just 12 points after scoring more than 40 points in each of the first two games. Like the Buccaneers, the Eagles have struggled to get close to the quarterback and intercept him. Philadelphia has just four sacks in three games under Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme, with the only two interceptions coming from safety Reed Blankenship. Baker Mayfield was easily fazed a week ago. The Eagles will need to continue to faze Mayfield and put a stop to the Buccaneers’ struggling ground game.
Key opponents for the Buccaneers’ offense
Buccaneers WR vs. Eagles secondary
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Tampa Bay’s wide receivers took a backseat last week with Baker Mayfield passing for 163 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Chris Godwin led the way with six catches for 53 yards and one touchdown, while Mike Evans was very quiet with two catches for 17 yards on just three targets. Third receiver Jalen McMillan had one catch for six yards. That was all the Buccaneers’ receivers had.
While the receiver corps is Tampa Bay’s strength, Philadelphia’s strength may be its secondary, which features two excellent safeties in longtime Buccaneers nemesis CJ Gardner-Johnson and team-high two-time draft pick Reed Blankenship. The Eagles also have a great starting cornerback duo in veteran Darius Slay and first-round draft pick Quinion Mitchell. Avonte Maddox will play slot corner and Kelly Ringo will also play at cornerback with James Bradberry on injured reserve.
For Tampa Bay to win this game, the Buccaneers receivers will have to beat Philadelphia’s zone defense. Vic Fangio will be playing everything from Cover 1 to Cover 2 to Cover 6. He’s primarily a zone matchup coordinator, but he’ll also mix in some man coverage. The Eagles rarely blitz, so they’ll drop into seven-man coverage on most downs, forcing the receivers to try to get open and find weaknesses in the zone.
A key matchup for the Buccaneers’ defense
Buccaneers defensive tackles vs. Eagles interior O-line
Buccaneers DT Greg Gaines – Photo: Cliff Welch/PR
Philadelphia’s offensive line remains strong despite the retirement of legendary Eagles center Jason Kelce, and Tash Push, or Brotherly Shove, whatever you want to call it, is still going strong. That’s because the inside offensive line remains strong thanks to the presence of Pro Bowl offensive tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. The Eagles could be without Johnson, though, after suffering a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s win at New Orleans. Right guard Mekhi Becton also injured his finger against the Saints. Both are questionable for Sunday’s game. Becton is a 6-foot-7, 363-yard rushing player, and his absence is huge.
But the Eagles have big backups in guard Tyler Steen (6-foot-6, 321 pounds) and tackle Fred Johnson (6-foot-7, 326 pounds). That’s important because Tampa Bay’s undersized defensive line was swamped by a disappointing Denver offensive line last week. Tampa Bay was without starting defensive tackles Vita Vea and Kalijah Kansey. We won’t know if those starting tackles will be available until later this week, but Greg Gaines, Will Gholston, C.J. Brewer and Mike Green all played poorly.
In addition to failing to record a single pressure or sack, the Buccaneers defensive tackles also couldn’t stop the previously struggling Broncos from rushing for 136 yards on Sunday. Philadelphia rushed for 172 yards in New Orleans, led by Saquon Barkley’s 147 yards and two rushing touchdowns. So stopping a tush push for short yardage may be the least of the Buccaneers’ worries up front. Gaines, Gholston, Brewer and Green have their hands full, and that may not end well for Tampa Bay.
