Philadelphia Eagles' stingy defense dominates Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Philadelphia Eagles' defense was stingy from the start.
The offense picked up steam as the football game progressed, led by the powerful running of D'Andre Swift.
That led to a fabulous finish as the Eagles remained unbeaten by handing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their first setback 25-11 Monday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
It was the first NFL game to ever finish with that score.
The Bucs managed 174 total yards and were undermined by the first interception thrown this year by Baker Mayfield, a fumble forced by Eagles rookie Jalen Carter, and a third-quarter safety.
"We can go really far with this team we got right here," Carter, who had 40 friends and family from home in nearby Apopka, said afterward.
Swift finished with 130 yards on 16 carries, a week after gaining 175 against the Vikings.
The two interceptions thrown by Jalen Hurts were of little consequence as he completed 23 of 37 passes for 277 yards.
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"I thought he did a good job of managing the game and playing a good game," Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said of Hurts. "We can't turn the ball over. He'll want those back. But, other than that, I thought it was really good."
Hurts was playing despite flu symptoms.
"We won," he said when asked how it affected him.
Humbled in a 2021 playoff loss at Tampa Bay, Hurts said "it was a feeling I never forgot and things have gone very well ever since."
A.J. Brown's nine catches covered 131 yards as the wide receiver and quarterback were in synch.
Jake Elliott was his reliable self with 36-, 38- and 26-yard field goals.
The Eagles (3-0) return to Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday for their NFC East opener against Washington (2-1) at 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay punted on its first three possessions and didn't get a touchdown until there was 9:22 left in the game, pulling within 25-11. By that time the Eagles had established their supremacy and never gave the football back while "Let's go Eagles!" chants echoed in their ears.
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Especially important was the drive that put them up 20-3. Hurts' 1-yard keeper with a shove from teammates ended a 13-play, 75-yard march with 9:12 to go in the third period. It featured a 26-yard run by Swift.
"We're a balanced offense right now that was able to get a lead tonight and then lean on the run game," Sirianni said.
The Eagles led 13-3 at halftime after the teams swapped turnovers as Elliott nailed a 38-yarder as time expired. Carter had just forced Rachaad White to fumble with James Bradberry recovering.
"I think what we're really doing well is playing with good fundamentals and playing physical," Sirianni said of his defense, "and those will take you through no matter what level of football you're playing."
That came after Devin White intercepted Hurts' pass. But Hurts was on target when he passed 34 yards for the only TD of the first half to Olamide Zaccheaus as the Eagles went ahead 10-3 with 3:31 left before halftime.
Not a household name among Eagles pass-catching luminaries, Zaccheaus attended PIAA state powerhouse Saint Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia along with Swift. He starred at Virginia and spent four seasons in Atlanta before signing with the Eagles in March as a free agent.
An early gamble didn't work for the Eagles but demonstrated their intent. On the Eagles' first possession, Kenny Gainwell was dropped for a 1-yard loss as the Eagles went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Bucs' 14. Britain Covey's 52-yard punt return then set up Elliott for his 36-yarder.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Philadelphia Eagles dominate Tampa Bay Buccaneers for NFL win
