The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four, 31-25. Both Bucky Irving and Emeka Egbuka eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark and Baker Mayfield completed 22 of 40 attempts for 289 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Following the Bucs' opening offensive possession, Riley Dixon's punt was blocked by Cameron Latu and recovered by Sydney Brown at the Tampa Bay 36-yard line and returned for a Philadelphia touchdown. On the ensuing drive for Baker Mayfield and co., Tampa Bay punted after a quick three-and-out.
On Philadelphia's next drive, consisting of swing passes to Saquon Barkley in the flat and Jalen Hurts finding receivers in coverage voids over the middle of the field, Hurts scrambled around the right end for a gain of 28 yards, which set up the Eagles at first and goal. Philadelphia cashed in with a Hurts two-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert, giving the visiting team a 14-0 advantage. To conclude the first frame, Chase McLaughlin gave the Bucs their first points of the day with a 42-yard field goal.
Midway through the second quarter, the Eagles capped off a six-play, 67-yard drive with a Hurts pass to Goedert for a five-yard score. On the scoring drive, the Eagles wideouts took advantage of off coverage with shots over the middle of the field in voids and Hurts used his legs to find targets downfield. Right before the half, Chase McLaughlin made a 65-yard field goal, making it the longest in team history to trim the deficit, 24-6.
Coming out of halftime, the Bucs' defense got a stop. SirVocea Dennis came downhill to tackle Barkley for a loss on first down and Vita Vea sacked Hurts for a loss of nine on second down, setting up third-and-22 and an ensuing punt.
In the third frame, the Bucs found the end zone. Off a play-action fake, Mayfield heaved a 77-yard bomb downfield to Emeka Egbuka, who caught the pass for a touchdown – the longest completion for the Buccaneers in 12 years. The Bucs trimmed the deficit, 24-13. On the Eagles subsequent drive, the Bucs' defense forced a quick three-and-out. Vea sacked Hurts on third down for a loss of nine to force the punt. After review, the initial ruling on the field of a Bucs' fumble was upheld and the Eagles took over at the 25-yard line. Philadelphia capitalized with a Barkley six-yard touchdown run around the left end to give the Eagles a 31-13 lead.
The Bucs then traveled 86 yards in four plays. Mayfield scrambled and found Bucky Irving down the left sideline and lobbed a pass to the running back for a 72-yard touchdown to make it a 31-20 game late in the third frame. The Bucs' following drive culminated in a McLaughlin 58-yard field goal, providing momentum for the home team.
The Bucs' defense followed suit by forcing a three-and-out. Benjamin Morrison broke up a third-down pass intended for A.J. Brown to force the punt. On the following drive for Tampa Bay, Mayfield's pass was intercepted at the Philadelphia 0 for a touchback and Hurts took over. The Bucs rallied late in the fourth but could not convert on fourth down, and the Eagles returned to the field with over a minute in regulation, icing their victory. The Bucs got a safety as time expired to make it a 31-25 final score.
TOP PERFORMERS 🏈
Buccaneers:
- Passing: QB Baker Mayfield: 22/40 for 288 yards - 2 TDs & 1 INT
- Rushing: RB Bucky Irving: 15 rushes for 63 yards
- Receiving: RB Bucky Irving: 5 catches for 102 yards - 1 TD
- Defense: NT Vita Vea: 3 total tackles, 2.0 sacks
Eagles:
- Passing: QB Jalen Hurts: 15/24 for 130 yards - 2 TD
- Rushing: QB Jalen Hurts: 9 rushes for 62 yards
- Receiving: TE Dallas Goedert: 4 catches for 37 yards - 2 TDs
- Defense: LB Zack Baun: 8 total tackles, 1.0 sack
