Preview: Eagles Visit Bucs

By Paul Bowman, Eagledelphia Managing Editor

The Eagles passing game was all but non-existent in week one, but the Eagles were able to get the W in a low scoring game. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to achieve the same result in an absolute slug fest where the Bucs racked up 417 yards through the air alone.

The Eagles will be facing a depleted secondary, however, while the Buccaneers will be facing a better defense than they did last week.

Jack Attack

Although he is listed as questionable, DeSean Jackson is expected to play against the Eagles. That may be a major issue for the Eagles. In five career games against the birds, Jackson has caught 20 of 32 passes for 440 yards. That’s four catches and 88 yards each game on average. The Eagles have also lost four of those matchups.

At Ease in Florida

Since 2010, the Eagles are 4-0 in games that they have played in Florida. They have outscored their opponents 108 to 54 in those games.

The most recent game the Eagles played in Florida was a win over Tampa Bay on October 13, 2013. The winning quarterback: Nick Foles. Foles threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns while posting a 133.3 quarterback rating in the 31-20 win.

A Hometown Team of Sorts

In additions to self-proclaimed Philly fan Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay seems to recruit many other players from the greater Philadelphia area.

The Bucs will likely field three starters that were all prominent Eagles – and two were Super Bowl champions last season. Defensive lineman Vinny Curry and Beau Allen as well as wideout DeSean Jackson have all had big impacts with the Eagles, but will suit up against them Sunday.

Additionally, the Buccaneers carry three former Penn Staters and a University of Pennsylvania graduate on their roster. Receiver Justin Watson is the Penn grad while fellow wideout Chris Godwin, defensive end Carl Nassib and tackle Donovan Smith are the former Nittany Lions.

Injury Report

Eagles

Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffrey and Darren Sproles will all be out for this game. The Eagles will rest Wentz until he is 100% ready with minimal chance of reinjury. Jeffrey will sit out for similar reasons. The Eagles punt returns will suffer with the loss of Sproles while Jay Ajayi and Wendell Smallwood will likely see more snaps to fill in at running back.

Shelton Gibson is questionable to play. That news comes as a double whammy. If Gibson cannot play, the Eagles have lost their punt returner who would likely be the primary backup for Sproles at kick returner. It also further thins out a depleted receiving corps. Without Gibson, the roster only has Nelson Agholor, Mike Wallace, DeAndre Carter and Kamar Aiken.

Buccaneers

The Bucs will be without cornerback Brent Grimes and defensive tackle Vita Vea. Grimes is a key loss for the Bucaneers at cornerback where they lost starter Vernon Hargreaves to the IR last week. The Eagles receivers did not do well against the Falcons, but the Bucs will be without arguably their two best corners against the Eagles.

Vea was Tampa Bay’s first round pick this year, but has not been able to play since suffering a calf injury prior to week one. Also, his given name is Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea. Vita just makes it easier to say.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and DeSean Jackson are questionable. Pierre-Paul did not register any sort of statistics in week one, but if he is unable to compete, the Eagles biggest issues will be two former Eagles – Beau Allen and Vinny Curry. Jackson had 157 receiving yards in week one before suffering a concussion, but reports are that he is likely to be cleared to play.

Jameis Winston remains suspended and Ryan Fitzpatrick will start at quarterback.

Broadcast Information

Time: 1:00 p.m.

TV: FOX

Radio: 94.1 FM WIP

Online: NFL Gamepass