The Eagles secure a commanding victory over the Buccaneers in a clash of undefeated teams.
The Eagles secure a commanding victory over the Buccaneers in a clash of undefeated teams
The Philadelphia Eagles hit the road and delivered a dominant performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Week 3 showdown between two unbeaten teams.
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The Eagles’ defense was the star of the night, stifling the Buccaneers in a 25-11 victory on Monday. The offense also displayed its prowess, with running back D’Andre Swift achieving over 100 rushing yards for the second consecutive game.
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Quarterback Jalen Hurts, despite battling flu-like symptoms just before the game, managed an up-and-down performance against the Buccaneers. He scored both rushing and passing touchdowns but also threw two interceptions, completing 23 of 37 passes for 277 yards.
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The Eagles’ defense played a crucial role, generating two takeaways, and the rushing attack amassed 201 yards against a Buccaneers’ run defense that ranked fourth in the league, allowing only 54 yards per game. Wide receiver A.J. Brown also had an outstanding game, with 131 receiving yards and nine receptions.
While the Eagles have yet to play their best football, they are among the three remaining undefeated teams.
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A notable trend has emerged with the Eagles’ ground game, which ranks second in the NFL with 178 rushing yards per game. Swift has solidified his role as Philadelphia’s lead running back, following up his career-best performance in Week 2 with another impressive game, gaining 130 yards on 16 carries.
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Key plays came from rookies Jalen Carter and Sydney Brown on defense, with Brown’s pass breakup preventing a potential Mike Evans touchdown, and Carter’s forced fumble showcasing his impressive start to his career.
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An eye-catching statistic was Jalen Hurts breaking the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a quarterback’s first 50 career games, surpassing Cam Newton with 29 touchdowns.
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For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1), it was a night of missed opportunities. Despite the defense notching two takeaways and making red zone stops, the offense struggled. Costly turnovers, including a safety after a Dee Delaney interception, plagued their performance. The Bucs were outgained by the Eagles, totaling only 174 yards compared to the Eagles’ 472.
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Quarterback Baker Mayfield faced difficulties, with early drops from Mike Evans and Cade Otton. The Buccaneers’ ground game remained a concern, with just 41 rushing yards on 17 carries, averaging 2.1 yards per carry.
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Despite injuries and setbacks, the Buccaneers’ defense showed resilience by limiting the Eagles to one touchdown in five red zone trips, a silver lining in an otherwise challenging game.
