After a close win to the Minnesota Vikings in a close week two matchup, Eagles fans are upset with their Super Bowl team. To begin the season, the Eagles have not looked like the team they did just a season ago. For now, some fans chalk it up to the new additions to the team and the losses at key positions, or the new coordinates for offense and defense. Either way, the birds have not been living up to their off season hype. Using the last two weeks of gameplay for the Eagles, I wanted to take a look ahead at the Eagles week three matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Sept 25 and see if I could predict the outcome of the game down to the statistics, and see if we can predict the resurgence of our Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, predicting who wins the coin toss would be difficult, so let’s assume that since the Buccaneers are the home team, they win the coin toss. The Buccaneers seem to run a slow paced offense stressing short passes to their star receivers hoping for them to make a play and gain some extra yards. The Buccaneers also use the run play about once per first down, and have one deep ball during the drive to keep the defenses honest. On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers defense has a great pass rush and run defense that scares opposing quarterbacks. Being tied for third in sacks this season so far and second best for the least amount of rush yards allowed this season, the Buccaneers defense is going to control the ground game and pressure Jalen Hurts. Not only do they seem to be dominant in the run defense, their pass defense is also still pretty good. It may not be the best in the league, being around the middle of the league for yards allowed in total, they are tied for third for most interceptions this season, and owning some of the best red zone stats in the league. They are going to be scary for the Eagles offense.
Now I don’t think I need to do a breakdown of the Eagles because most of the readers will probably know the ups and downs of these players. Predicting this game by quarter, I see the Eagles going up 10–3 in the first quarter, then the score being 16–13 by the half. The Eagles are going to come out guns blazing in the first like they usually do, getting a field goal and touchdown in the process. The Buccaneers are going to start out cold as the Eagles shut down the short pass plays the Buccaneers love to run. In the second quarter, I see the Buccaneers taking more control of the game as their defense and offense slowly start to get hot, earning themselves a touchdown. The Eagles offense will slow down and we will see the offense get maybe a three and out. Going into the second half the score at the end of the third quarter will be 23–13. I see both offenses getting a good drive going near the end of the quarter. The Eagles are going to take most of the clock off going into the fourth, and the Buccaneers will have the ball to start the fourth, showing the low score. The Buccaneers are going to try and work the Eagles defense, hoping to not allow the pass rush to do their job. The end of the fourth quarter will come and the final score will be 26–20. The Buccaneers are going to get the touchdown in the fourth, but the Eagles will control the ball and end the game.
I see D’Andre Swift getting about 15 carries to about 70 yards. Hurts will have 253 yards of passing with 27 yards of running, capping off this game with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, no interceptions. The lead receiver for the Eagles will be DeVonta Smith with 98 yards. Rachaad White will have about 65 yards rushing with a touchdown. Baker Mayfield will have 218 yards passing, and the leading receiver will be Mike Evans with 124. This game is going to be a slugfest with some good offense. The offenses of both teams are going to slow down each other’s defense and choose short passing plays to get the job done. I see these teams as very similar in certain ways, which will make this game a great game. I know I’m definitely watching and hoping that the Eagles can turn it around.
Evan Landis is a first-year Communications major with a minor in Psychology. EL1017699@wcupa.edu