Pass rushes key as Eagles visit Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have surrendered 12 sacks while recording none of their own in their past two games.
Flipping that script could be critical to Sunday’s result as the Philadelphia Eagles visit Tampa, Fla., for a battle of 2-1 teams.
Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times in last weekend’s stunning 26-7 home loss to the previously winless Denver Broncos. For the second straight week, he threw for fewer than 200 yards and tossed an interception.
Tampa Bay enters Week 4 ranked 26th in the NFL in total offense and 27th in rushing, but Mayfield refused to place all the blame for his dirty uniform on the offensive line.
“There were a few pressures this week that were actually on me,” Mayfield said. “There’s a mindset of trying to fix the protections when they’re bringing some of these pressures, and there’s also a mindset to snap the ball and get it out of your hands.
“Not all of that is on the O-line.”
The last time Philadelphia visited Raymond James Stadium, Mayfield threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a 32-9 wild-card playoff victory on Jan. 15 of this year.
The Eagles sacked Mayfield four times in that loss — the same number their pass rush has generated through three games this year.
Philadelphia sacked Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins only once in a last-minute 22-21 loss at home in Week 2, then took down Derek Carr only once in a last-minute 15-12 win at New Orleans in Week 3.
Second-year Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is still looking for his first sack of the season, but he shined against the Saints with four tackles (two for losses), two batted passes and a quarterback hit.
“Obviously, this past game was his best game by far,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “And hopefully that will set the trend moving forward. I don’t know what actually triggered it, other than he, and we as a D-Line unit, didn’t play good in the previous game. So I’m sure that had something to do with it.”
The headliners for this contest on offense include Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin.
Barkley leads the NFL in rushing (351 yards) and is tied for the lead in touchdowns from scrimmage (five) through his first three games with Philadelphia. Godwin already has 21 catches and has scored touchdowns in all three games.
Including the playoffs, Tampa Bay has won five of the past six meetings dating back to 2015.
Both teams are keeping an eye on injuries.
The Eagles won’t have No. 2 wideout DeVonta Smith (concussion), but No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) returned to practice in a limited capacity Friday and is questionable, as is right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion). Right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) and left guard Landon Dickerson (wrist) were cleared to play.
The Buccaneers won’t have defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (calf) or star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), and wide receiver Jalen McMillian (hamstring) is doubtful. Five players — rookie running back Bucky Irving (hamstring), receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle), tight end Ko Kieft (ankle), right tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) and nose tackle Vita Vea (knee) — were deemed questionable after practicing in limited fashion Friday.
Godwin (neck) and fellow starting wideout Mike Evans (knee) carry no game designation.
–Field Level Media