Eagles vs. Buccaneers: 3 ways Tampa Bay has improved since Week 3 matchup
On September 25, 2023, the Philadelphia defense shut down Baker Mayfield and the Tampa offense, while the road team had a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver on a night when Jalen Hurts and the offense left points on the board.
Rookie defensive tackle and No. 9 overall pick Jalen Carter was dominant in limited pass rush opportunities, while the Eagles secondary adjusted without Avonte Maddox in the slot, moving James Bradberry and Sydney Brown around the field.
In that matchup, Tampa finished with 174 total yards and was 5-10 on third downs.
Fast forward four months later, and the two teams will meet for a second time this season after the Buccaneers won the NFC South, securing the fourth seed.
Both teams are vastly different since that matchup, and we’re looking at three ways that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have improved since the last meaningful contest.
Running game improvement
After struggling early-on, the Tampa run game has become a strength of the offense.
Rachaad White’s production could be the biggest improvement for this offense.
In Week 3, the Bucs ran for just 41 yards on 17 carries (2.4 avg.) against an Eagles defense that was trending upwards at the time. That trend has improved and since Week 12, Tampa has been among the best in the league on the ground.
The Bucs ran for 125 yards against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12, then for 128 yards against the Carolina Panthers, and 148 yards in Week 14 at the Atlanta Falcons.
In the season finale against Carolina, White rushed 19 times for 75 yards and brought in all four targets for 18 yards in the Buccaneers’ 9-0 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
It was the fourth time in five weeks that White had 20+ carries, while logging 70-yards on the ground for the fifth time in the last seven games. White also finished the regular season with at least four catches in three straight contests, and the 2022 third-round pick finished just 15 rushing yards short of the 1,000-yard mark.
Defense much improved
In the season finale with all the NFC South marbles on the line, the defense delivered one of the best all-around performances of the season against Carolina.
Tampa recorded their first shutout since Nov. 21, 2010, at San Francisco, limiting the Panthers to 199 yards, forcing two fumbles and sacking Bryce Young three times.
Antoine Winfield Jr. is a star, while the front seven is stout and led by veteran defensive tackle Vita Vea, linebacker Lavonte David, and edge rusher Shaquil Barrett.
Rookies Calijah Kancey, the Bucs’ first-round pick, and YaYa Diaby, a third-rounder, have started to figure the NFL game out, while Todd Bowles defensive unit is allowing just 16.3 points a game over their last six.
Diaby played just 25 snaps in the teams’ first matchup, but he now leads the team in sacks with 7.5, third-most among all rookies in the NFL.
Over his last seven games, Diaby has accounted for 15 pressures and nine quarterback hurries, per PFF, leading all rookies in tackles for loss with 12.
Baker Mayfield
The Bucs have scored 13 and 9 points in the past two games, but it would be a lie if Mayfield’s steady improvement doesn’t make this list.
The Heisman Trophy winner fits the mode of capable NFL signal-callers that can look elite against this Philadelphia defense.
Mayfield threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns — both career bests — this season, and if he’s not pressured, it could be a difficult night for the Eagles defense.
