Nick Foles celebrates after throwing a game-winning, one-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin last December against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Eagles opened the 2012 season with a 3-1 record before slipping into an anemic stretch. Sandwiched between all of the losses that followed was one memorable victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in December, completed with a Nick Foles pass to Jeremy Maclin from the goal line as time expired.
Foles is back in the lineup on Sunday as the starter, again in place of an injured Michael Vick. The Eagles are also looking for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, which would improve them to 3-3 and earn at least a tie atop the NFC East standings going into a Week 7 game against the Cowboys.
But first things first, there is this game on Sunday.
Perhaps the most important thing the Eagles have to do is look past the frustrations and struggles that have plagued the Buccaneers, right down to this week's off-field story.
Two weeks ago, as their Week 4 game against the Arizona Cardinals approached, it was the quarterback saga that removed Josh Freeman from the starter role for Mike Glennon.
This week, it is the third case of MRSA being reported out of the Tampa Bay locker room. Rookie cornerback Johnthan Banks has been cleared to play despite contracting the infection this week, which nearly forced the NFL to cancel the game.
Despite additional players being questionable after early bouts with the infections – guard Carl Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes - the game will go on as scheduled.
One of the more interesting matchups will be DeSean Jackson and Darrelle Revis. Jackson stated earlier this week that Revis "can't run with him" despite essentially being a non-factor in the Eagles win last season in Tampa Bay.
Jackson will obviously get most of the focus with Maclin no longer on the field. It will be interesting to see if Foles gets the tight ends involved regularly, as he did in last Sunday's win, by making regular attempts to Brent Celek, Zack Ertz and James Casey.
Obviously, the Buccaneers' quarterback issues are still on the forefront, as Glennon makes just his second start. Even with the bye week to prepare, there's no telling whether play under Glennon will be improved. A good game from the Eagles secondary could certainly impact the result, as Cary Williams, Brandon Boykin and Bradley Fletcher will be responsible for Mike Williams and Vincent Jackson.
Doug Martin will lead the Bucs running game.
Tampa Bay is not a team known for their offense. The passing game is the worst in the NFL, averaging 174 yards per game. The running game accounts for 100.5 yards per game, 18th in the NFL.
It is the defense, led by the likes of Revis, Adrian Clayborn, Mark Barron, Lavonte David and Akeem Spence, that has the team in position to win this game. LeSean McCoy could be limited again on the ground facing the NFL's ninth-best rush defense, allowing 94 yards per game. Foles will also go against the pass defense that allows 238 yards per game, 15th in the NFL.
If anything, it is one of the rare matches on the schedule that favors the Eagles on paper. But paper is only good for pre-game speculation. It will be the on-field performance that counts.
Injury Report:
Eagles
- QB Michael Vick (hamstring) is out for today's game.
- TE James Casey (groin) is questionable for today's game.
- LB Connor Barwin (knee) is probable for today's game.
- S Patrick Chung (shoulder) is probable for today's game.
- P Donnie Jones (foot) is probable for today's game.
- T Jason Peters (finger) is probable for today's game.
- CB Brandon Boykin (groin) is probable for today's game.
- RB Chris Polk (ankle) is probable for today's game.
Buccaneers
- CB Michael Adams (knee) is out for today's game.
- G Carl Nicks (foot) is questionable for today's game. Nicks did not participate in practice this week.
- CB Johnthan Banks (illness) is questionable for today's game. Banks did not participate in practice this week.
- WR Mike Williams (hamstring) is questionable for today's game. Williams was limited in practice this week.
- S Mark Barron (hamstring) is probable for today's game.
- DT Derek Landri (knee) is probable for today's game.
- S Dashon Goldson (foot) is probable for today's game.
- CB Rashaan Melvin (hamstring) is probable for today's game.
- TE Tom Crabtree (ankle) is probable for today's game.
- DE Steven Means (shoulder) is probable for today's game.
- G Gabe Carimi (illness) is probable for today's game.
Staff Predictions:
Frank Klose
Eagles
I could say the Eagles are disease-free and therefore have the advantage and shall prevail.
Matt Lombardo
Eagles 23, Buccaneers 17
Nick Foles gives clearest glimpse of the "Chip Kelly offense" that we've seen since the Washington game.
Kevin Durso
Eagles 30, Buccaneers 17
If there is one game on the schedule that appears to belong to the Eagles, it's this one. The state of the Buccaneers is horrible right now. Every winless team could break out at any point, but Mike Glennon is still learning the ropes. Foles has literally been there and done that with Tampa Bay. As hard as it is to call a backup quarterback with six previous career starts a veteran, but I give the nod to the veteran quarterback.
Kevin Durso is a contributor for Eagledelphia. Look for his weekly Monday Review the Monday following every Eagles game. You can follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
