Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Game Preview – PHI at TB

Posted September 27th, 2025 | 2 Comments »

The Eagles have beaten the Cowboys and Chiefs three straight times. They have beaten the Rams four straight times. This week will bring a different situation. The Bucs have beaten the Eagles twice in a row and done well against them in recent years.

Before we start talking about how Todd Bowles or Baker Mayfield owns the Eagles, we need to point out that injuries were a huge part of those games. AJ Brown didn’t play in the last two losses. The Eagles were missing several starters in last year’s 33-16 loss. Each team will be missing starters on Sunday, but AJ Brown will be on the field and ready to build on last week’s breakout game.

This is a battle of 3-0 teams. Both were playoff teams last year. This is good vs good. The Eagles have been tested in each game so far, playing a tough schedule. The Bucs needed last minute scores to win each of their three games. They were sloppy, but came up big in clutch situations. A lot of that is due to the play of QB Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield has emerged as one of the better QBs in the league. He is a good, not great, passer and uses his legs effectively when needed. He also seems like the emotional leader of the team. It feels like they feed off his energy. He won’t have Mike Evans in this game, but will have other weapons. WRs Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka should play. The Bucs have struggled to run the ball this season. RB Bucky Iriving had a terrific rookie year, but his numbers are down in 2025.

All of those skill players don’t mean a thing if the Bucs can’t block. Tampa’s OL has been decimated by injuries. They are getting LT Tristan Wirfs back this week, but will have backups at LG and RT. Graham Barton had been at LT in recent weeks. He will move back to his natural position of center. The Eagles will be missing edge rusher Nolan Smith, but still have enough weapons on the DL to win up front.

Mayfield shredded the Eagles last year, throwing for 347 yards. Cooper DeJean wasn’t a starter and the secondary struggled. The secondary should be better this time around, but will have a new starter. Kelee Ringo will start in place of Adoree Jackson/Jakorian Bennett. This is a huge opportunity for Ringo. The Eagles love his raw ability and would love to see him play well. He wasn’t good enough to win a starting job this summer. He has been excellent on STs.

Jalen Hurts only threw for 158 yards last year in Tampa. He was sacked six times. Parris Campbell was the leading wideout, with 4 catches for 17 yards. Neither AJ nor DeVonta played. Sunday will be very different. Hurts will have Brown, Smitty and Jahan Dotson as his receivers. The question is whether we will see the offense from the second half of the Rams game. The Eagles spread things out and went more into attack mode. All the players talked this week about wanting to be more aggressive. Let’s hope we see that.

Saquon Barkley has been quiet this year. The Eagles OL is struggling and defenses are keying on him. The Bucs normally play great run defense so you would think they will focus on Barkley and dare Hurts to beat them. Bowles loves to blitz and does a great job of coming up with creative pressure schemes. It will be critical for Hurts and the OL to read things well pre-snap and adjust as needed.

There is one player for the Eagles to attack.

It doesn’t matter if you attack him with a RB, TE or WR. Get him in space and let your players make plays.

The Eagles OL must play better this week. Going against Vita Vea is never easy. That is one special dude. Old friend Hasson Reddick will be looking to make plays against his former team. Lane Johnson needs to shut him down.

I’m at a bit of a loss for what to predict going into this game. Tampa hasn’t played a tough schedule, but needed last minute scores to win their first three games. The Eagles have been erratic in their three games. Last week was the most extreme example. The Eagles were awful in the first half and then dominated the final 29 minutes of the game.

Who shows up on Sunday?

Can the Bucs take advantage of Ringo? Can the Eagles take advantage of the backup OL?

I tend to think the Eagles came alive last week and will build off that. Get the ball to your stars and let them makes plays. Don’t overcomplicate this.

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