The Philadelphia Eagles are an incredible 19-1 since their last visit to Tampa, Fla., almost exactly one year ago.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will attempt to interrupt the best stretch in Eagles’ history when they host the only clash of 3-0 teams this week on Sunday afternoon.
The Bucs have won the past two meetings, also at Raymond James Stadium. They posted a 33-16 victory in Week 4 last season and 32-9 decision in a wild-card playoff game after the 2023 campaign.
The wins this season have not been anywhere near that one-sided for Tampa Bay, with all three victories decided by a total of six points.
Last weekend, Baker Mayfield clinched Tampa Bay’s best start since 2005 by leading the team to a game-winning field goal as time expired in a 29-27 defeat of the New York Jets.
The Buccaneers are just the third team since 1970 to win three consecutive games in the same season in the final minute, joining the 1994 New York Giants and 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Eagles matched the “Mayfield magic” with a little “Hurts hocus pocus” last weekend in Philadelphia.
Trailing 26-7 to the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter, Jalen Hurts threw three second-half touchdown passes to take the lead and Jordan Davis returned a blocked field goal attempt 61 yards to seal a 33-26 comeback.
“They play with a lot of confidence,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Wednesday of the Eagles. “There’s skill at every position on both sides of the football and they understand how to win. That’s huge in this league.”
Hurts is 1-3 against Tampa Bay, including the playoff defeat.
“(Bowles) has got a lot of tools and a lot of things in his system. What he does, that is very challenging,” Hurts said of the Tampa Bay defense. “That’s what makes them such a great team and a great defense.”
Not all of Philadelphia’s games have been as dramatic as those of Tampa Bay, but it is worth noting that the defending champs have won their three games by a total of just 14 points.
Also noteworthy is that the Eagles did not have star receiver A.J. Brown available for those past two losses to the Bucs. After a modest start to the season, Brown caught six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Rams.
Meanwhile the slow start continued against L.A. for Eagles star Saquon Barkley, who is far off the pace from his 2,000-yard campaign last season. He ran for a season-low 46 yards on 18 carries against the Rams and is averaging 64.7 yards per game and 3.3 per carry.
He will face an uphill battle against a Tampa Bay defense that hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in a league-leading 11 straight games.
“This game is going to be won in the trenches,” Mayfield said Wednesday. “That’s the way we like it. We trust our big boys, we trust our D-line, and it’s a great matchup for those guys as well.”
On Wednesday, the Eagles placed edge rusher Nolan Smith, cornerback Jakorian Bennett and wide receiver Darius Cooper on injured reserve. Left tackle Lane Johnson was limited on Wednesday after leaving early last Sunday with a stinger. Linebackers Zack Baun (knee) and Jihaad Campbell (triceps) and corner Adoree’ Jackson (groin) did not practice.
Buccaneers star receiver Mike Evans is out multiple weeks with a hamstring injury and tight end Ko Kieft (leg) was placed on IR on Tuesday. There’s a chance the Bucs could see the season debuts of wideout Chris Godwin and left tackle Tristan Wirfs, with Bowles calling both “end of week evaluations.”
Mayfield (biceps) and linebacker Lavonte David (knee) were limited in Wednesday’s session while defensive end Logan Hall (groin) was held out.
