The Buccaneers aren’t likely to come back from the hole they are in today. Tampa Bay, with three consecutive comebacks ending with game-winning scores in the final minute, are down 24-6 at halftime today.
The Eagles aren’t the Falcons, Texans or Jets.
The only good news for the Bucs, if there is good news, is the 65-yard field goal that Chase McLaughin nailed on the final play of the half. It was 1 yard off the NFL record set by Justin Tucker. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, it was only three points, and the Eagles receive the second-half kickoff.
The Eagles have outgained the Bucs 201 to 99 and it would have been more if not for Cameron Latu’s block of Riley Dixon’s punt that Sydney Brown returned 35 yards for a touchdown. Philadelphia has punted only once.
Jalen Hurts is 15-of-16 for 130 yards and two touchdowns, both to Dallas Goedert. The tight end has four catches for 37 yards, with his touchdowns covering 2 and 5 yards. Hurts leads the Eagles in rushing with 42 yards on four carries.
Baker Mayfield is 12-of-21 for 65 yards.
Eagles right guard Tyler Steen left for the locker room late in the second quarter after injuring his leg. Matt Pryor replaced him.
Dallas Goedert scored his second touchdown, and the Eagles are running the Bucs out of their own building.
The Eagles lead the Bucs 21-3 with 6:10 remaining in the half.
Goedert caught a 5-yard pass from Jalen Hurts for his second score of the day, completing a six-play, 67-yard drive. His first touchdown was a 2-yarder.
Goedert now has three touchdowns for the season, topping his two from last season. His career high is five in a season.
Hurts is 10-of-11 for 98 yards and has run for 31 yards on two carries.
The Eagles are handling the heat and the Buccaneers so far.
Philadelphia, which went to Tampa a day early to try to acclimate to the humid conditions, is up 14-0 after only one drive.
The Eagles have had only one drive, scoring their first touchdown on a blocked punt by Cameron Latu that was returned 35 yards for a touchdown by Sydney Brown.
On Philadelphia’s first possession, the visitors marched 73 yards in only eight plays. Jalen Hurts threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert on the play after Hurts’ 29-yard scramble.
Hurts was 5-of-6 for 33 yards and a touchdown and he had the one run.
Saquon Barkley caught two passes for 14 yards.
The Eagles haven’t even been on offense yet, and they lead the Bucs 7-0.
Tight end Cameron Latu blocked Riley Dixon’s punt, and Sydney Brown returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.
Latu came right up the middle, giving Dixon no chance to get off the punt. The ball bounced directly to Brown, who ran untouched to the end zone.
The Bucs moved the ball 28 yards to the Tampa Bay 48 before stalling.
Baker Mayfield went 1-for-3 for 8 yards.
The biggest game for Week 4 arguably happens in Tampa, where the 3-0 Eagles face the 3-0 Bucs.
Plenty of locals have chosen to watch from home.
Via JoeBucsFan.com, the game isn’t sold out. The article blames the situation on the fact that the cheapest seats now cost more than $180 each.
It’s the second straight non-sellout for the undefeated Bucs, following last week’s Creamsicle throwback and home opener weekend.
And so, while the Eagles may be dealing with swamp ass on Sunday, the noise may not be the factor that it could have been.
The announced attendance for last week’s win over the Jets was 62,872. Four years ago, the home opener against the Cowboys after the Super Bowl-winning season was 65,566.
