The Buccaneers dominated the Eagles in a 33-16 rousing victory in Week Four and advance to a 3-1 record. Baker Mayfield completed 30-of-47 attempts for 347 yards and two touchdowns for a 100.2 quarterback rating. Todd Bowles' defense brought relentless pressure on Jalen Hurts, sacking the visiting signal-caller six times.
On their opening possession, the Buccaneers heavily targeted the perimeter on screens to get playmakers in space and it paid dividends. Rachaad White spearheaded the drive with gains of 17 and 22 yards to put the Bucs in an advantageous field position. Mike Evans capped off the 10-play, 79-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown, giving the home team a 7-0 advantage. Mayfield went 8-for-9 on the drive, getting the ball into the hands of multiple weapons.
The Bucs' defense followed suit by forcing a quick three-and-out with Dallas Goedert coming short of the sticks on third down. On the ensuing drive for Tampa Bay, a pickup of 16 yards for Cade Otton and a gain of 28 by Chris Godwin off a screen, put the Bucs at the Philadelphia 36-yard line. Godwin juked a defender and made him miss for chunk yardage down the right sideline. The drive culminated in a 15-yard Trey Palmer touchdown. Mayfield threaded the needle and split two defenders, putting the ball out in front where only Palmer could haul it in. The Bucs got off to a fast start, scoring on their first two possessions for a 14-0 lead. Vita Vea became the catalyst on the Eagles' subsequent offensive drive. Vea plowed his way up the middle with power, knocking Jalen Hurts down for a sack (loss of 10), which forced a punt.
On the Bucs' fourth drive early in the second quarter, Mayfield ran and extended his arm on a one-yard touchdown rush. He faked the handoff to White and took off, providing the Bucs with a 21-0 cushion at Raymond James Stadium. Irving moved the chains with vision and short-area burst. Tampa Bay's defense forced another three-and-out, putting the clamps on the Eagles' offense.
On the following drive for Tampa Bay, Mike Evans drew a defensive pass interference penalty on third down, providing a new set of downs. Godwin made a physical catch, extending his arms to haul in a grab for the first down, boxing out the Eagles' defender. An 18-yard gain off a corner route by Sterling Shepard set the Bucs up at first-and-goal. On the subsequent play, a dropped pass in the end zone resulted in a Chase McLaughlin 21-yard field goal. With 7:18 to go in the second quarter, the Bucs held a 254-0 net yard advantage over the visiting team. Philadelphia gained its first yards midway through the second quarter with Hurts' quick pass to Parris Campbell.
The Eagles managed to march down the field on the ensuing drive, courtesy of an 18-yard gain by Dallas Goedert. Vea stopped Saquon Barkley short on second-and-goal and he was stuffed again on third down - this time a collective effort from Vea and K.J. Britt. The Eagles were able to cash in on fourth down as Hurts found Campbell in the back of the end zone, making it a 24-7 game.
Out of halftime, the Eagles made their way down the field with a 59-yard Barkley run. The five-play, 70-yard drive culminated in an Eagles' tush push. Hurts ran it in on a one-yard touchdown, trimming the deficit, 24-14.
The Bucs answered with a score of their own. Godwin converted on third-and-11, providing a fresh set of downs. Bucky Irving made an acrobatic one-handed grab for a gain of eight and a 21-yard gain for Evans put the Bucs at first-and-goal. Irving finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown around the left end. The extra point attempt was blocked and run back by Eagles' Kelee Ringo for a safety, giving the visiting team two points. The strange turn of events inside Raymond James Stadium culminated in a 30-16 scoreboard.
The Bucs defense shifted the momentum on the next drive as Lavonte David nabbed a takeaway. He sacked Hurts and knocked the ball out. Ben Stille recovered it at the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, putting Mayfield and co. back on the field. The Bucs traveled down the field off a Shepard high-point grab and ensuing 30-yard gain. To end the third quarter, a defensive offside (Ojomo) and a defensive holding (Maddox) gave the Bucs positive field positioning. White picked up 13 yards on a screen but a dropped pass on third-and-12 forced a McLaughlin 52-yard field goal, making it a 33-16 game. The Bucs' defense responded, bringing the crowd to their feet. David sacked Hurts on second down for a loss of nine -marking his fourth career multi-sack game - and two plays later, Yaya Diaby brought down Hurts and forced the ball out, but it was 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 on Hurts.
