Bucs 33, Eagles 16 – Bucs defeat Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4

The Buccaneers dominated the Eagles with a thrilling 33-16 win in week four to post a 3-1 record. Baker Mayfield completed 30 of 47 attempts for 347 yards and two touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 100.2. Todd Bowles' defense put relentless pressure on Jalen Hurts, sacking the visitors' signal-caller six times.

On their first possession, the Buccaneers targeted the sidelines heavily on screens to get the playmakers into space, and it paid off. Rachaad White led the drive with gains of 17 and 22 yards, putting the Bucs in advantageous field position. Mike Evans capped the 10-play, 79-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown to give the home team a 7-0 lead. Mayfield went 8-for-9 on the drive and put the ball in the hands of multiple weapons.

The Bucs' defense followed suit, forcing a quick three-and-out, with Dallas Goedert narrowly missing the uprights on third down. On the ensuing Tampa Bay drive, the Bucs reached the Philadelphia 36-yard line with a 16-yard gain for Cade Otton and a 28-yard gain by Chris Godwin on the screen. Godwin beat a defender and made him miss down the right sideline for a long shot. The drive culminated in a 15-yard touchdown by Trey Palmer. Mayfield threaded the needle, separating two defenders and pushing the ball forward where only Palmer could get it. The Bucs got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 14-0 lead on their first two possessions. Vita Vea became the catalyst for the Eagles' subsequent offensive drive. Vea fought powerfully up the middle and threw Jalen Hurts to the ground for a sack (10-point loss) that forced a punt.

On the Bucs' fourth drive early in the second quarter, Mayfield ran and stuck his arm out for a one-yard touchdown rush. He faked the handoff to White and took off, giving the Bucs a 21-0 lead at Raymond James Stadium. Irving moved the chains with long-range vision and close-range fire. Tampa Bay's defense forced another three-pointer, thwarting the Eagles' offense.

On the following drive for Tampa Bay, Mike Evans called a defensive pass interference penalty on third down, resulting in a new set of downs. Godwin made a physical catch by extending his arms to grab the first down and box the Eagles defender. An 18-yard gain from Sterling Shepard on a corner gave the Bucs the lead. On the ensuing play, a dropped pass in the end zone led to a 21-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin. With 7:18 left in the second quarter, the Bucs had a 254-0 net yardage advantage over the visiting team. Midway through the second quarter, Philadelphia gained its first yards with a quick pass from Hurts to Parris Campbell.

Thanks to an 18-yard gain from Dallas Goedert, the Eagles were able to break down the field on the ensuing drive. Vea stopped Saquon Barkley just before the second round and he was thwarted again on the third round – this time a combined effort by Vea and KJ Britt. The Eagles were able to take advantage on fourth down when Hurts found Campbell in the back of the end zone, making it a 24-7 game.

After halftime, the Eagles advanced down the field with a 59-yard run by Barkley. The five-play, 70-yard drive culminated in a tush push by the Eagles. Hurts scored a one-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-14.

The Bucs responded with a score of their own. Godwin scored the third and eleventh goals to start a new series of defeats. Bucky Irving made an eight-yard gain with a one-handed acrobatic move, and a 21-yard gain for Evans gave the Bucs the lead. Irving finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown at left end. The extra point attempt was blocked by the Eagles' Kelee Ringo and returned for a safety, giving the visiting team two points. The strange turn of events at Raymond James Stadium culminated in a score of 30-16.

The Bucs defense changed the momentum on the next drive when Lavonte David grabbed a takeaway. He sacked Hurts and knocked the ball out. Ben Stille recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, giving Mayfield and Co. the win. back on the field. The Bucs marched down the field after a high-point grab by Shepard and a resulting 30-yard gain. At the end of the third quarter, a defensive offside position (Ojomo) and a defensive defensive position (Maddox) ensured positive field positioning for the Bucs. White gained 13 yards on a screen, but a dropped pass on third-and-12 forced McLaughlin's 52-yard field goal, making the game 33-16. The Bucs defense responded and brought the crowd to its feet. David sacked Hurts on second down for a loss of nine – his fourth career multi-sack game – and two plays later Yaya Diaby tripped Hurts and forced the ball out, only for it to be recovered by Philadelphia. The Eagles were forced to punt, putting the ball back in Mayfield's hands. The Bucs' offense stalled, but Todd Bowles' defense forced the Eagles off the field with a fourth-down sack by Anthony Nelson of Hurts.