Game 4

Eagles (2-1) at Bucs (2-1) 

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: FOX (WTVT-TV Channel 13 locally) with Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady and Erin Andrews.

Streaming: Sunday Ticket, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game also will be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 232 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: It seems today will be cloudy but nice and warm. Per AccuWeather.com, Bucs fans can throw hands with Eagles fans at tailgates with temperatures in the low-80s with a 40 percent chance of rain. By kickoff, the temperature is expected to be in the mid-80s and climb to a high of 89 in the second half. When the game concludes, look for the temperature to be 87.  Rain chances will bounce during the game from 39 to 47 percent.

Odds: Per HardRockBet, as of midnight, Bucs +1 (+100); over/under 42.5.

Referees: Carl Cheffers and his gang will officiate today’s game. NFL gamblers know full well how much Cheffers is a homer. And Bucs fans should rejoice about this (today). Per Sharp Football Analysis, home teams are 79-52 since 2016 with Cheffers’ outfit working the game.

Injuries: Eagles —  Out: WR DeVonta Smith (concussion), WR A.J. Brown (hamstring). Questionable: T Lane Johnson (concussion). Bucs — Out: DT Calijah Kancey (calf), S Antoine Winfield (ankle), RT Luke Goedeke (concussion).  Doubtful: WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring). Questionable: RB Rachaad White (illness), RB Bucky Irving (hamstring). WR Kameron Johnson (ankle), TE Ko Kieft (ankle), NT Vita Vea (knee).

Outlook: If the last two weeks of Bucs football is any gauge, look for this game to be a struggle for the Bucs offense. Never in Joe’s wildest dreams would Joe have guessed the absence of Luke Goedeke at right tackle would absolutely ground this Bucs offense, but it sure has. The Bucs cannot get this offense into gear without Goedeke. His replacement, the new set of swinging saloon doors, Justin Skule, has been a problem. Goedeke’s nasty concussion has turned the offense into a dink-and-dunk desperation offense with only Chris Godwin being a reliable target. That’s not to say Mike Evans isn’t open. Stat geeks and NFL analysts have documented that Evans is open, but Baker Mayfield has been unable to get the ball to him. Mayfield has been rattled by a pass rush coming from the right side and up the middle. Cody Mauch has been limited, it seems, because he’s had to help out Skule so much. Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen has been reluctant to go max-protect and the result has been defenses shutting down the Bucs offense. If the Bucs can somehow find a way to get the ball into Evans’ hands more often, the Bucs should win. It seems Vita Vea may find his way onto the field as a starter. This is a key as the Eagles will likely lean on the NFL’s top running back this season, Saquon Barkley. If the Bucs can limit Barkley, the Eagles can be had. If Vea cannot go, the Bucs are going to be in for a long afternoon, Joe’s afraid.

Fun facts: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts generally struggles terribly against Todd Bowles-led defenses. Hurts is 1-4 against a Bowles/Bucs defense. He has his worst touchdown-to-interception ratio against a Bowles defense than any other coach or team. … RB Saquon Barkley became the third player in the past 20 years with 125+ scrimmage yards & 2+ rush touchdowns in two of his team’s first three games of the season. Barkley averages 117 yards rushing a game this season and leads the league in rushing at 351. … DT Jalen Carter became the first defensive lineman with two tackles for loss and two passes defended in a game since Week 9 last season when DeForest Buckner pulled this off. … S C. J. Gardner-Johnson has a pick in each of his last three games facing the Bucs. … In four of his last five home starts, Bucs QB Baker Mayfield lit up the Eagles the last time the Bucs and Eagles faced each other in the wild card round last year, a win for the Bucs. In that game, Mayfield threw for 337 yards with three touchdowns while not throwing a pick. … RB Rachaad White does rather well against Philadelphia. In his last three games against the Eagles he has at least 60 or more scrimmage yards. … What does WR Chris Godwin have in common with Justin Jefferson? Well, along with Jalen Nailors, they are the only three receivers to have a touchdown catch in each game this season. … ILB Lavonte David last week had his 30th career forced fumble. No active NFL player has more. … CB Zyon McCollum looking for his third game of the season with at least two passes defended.

BRINGING THIS SAME ENERGY ON GAMEDAY 😤 pic.twitter.com/JldgzRRqzK

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 28, 2024