BSPN: Eagles Will Figure Things Out Against The Bucs
January 12th, 2024
All-Pro corner expected back.
One reason the Eagles’ pass defense has been horrid the past six weeks is a Pro Bowl cornerback has been missing with an injury.
Darius Slay announced Wednesday, “You best believe I will be out there,” on his podcast regarding Monday night’s Bucs-Eagles playoff game. That may just be enough to keep the Bucs from scoring points and to help the Eagles pull away with a superior running game and offense in the end.
That’s the reasoning from follicly-challenged Billy Barnwell of BSPN. Barnwell is still impressed with the Eagles run game. So he thinks the Eagles will wear down Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter by playing ground-and-pound and keepaway.
However, the biggest key in Barnwell’s eyes is Slay.
In the Week 3 meeting between the clubs, Slay shut down Mike Evans. Barnwell is really spooked by how bad the Bucs offense has been the past two weeks and if Slay takes out Evans again, Barnwell doesn’t have faith that a banged-up Mayfield can carry the team if Evans is shut down.
Bucs are coming off an ugly win over the Panthers, with a 9-0 victory saved by a DJ Chark fumble into the end zone and a penalty that wiped away a Raheem Blackshear score. Even worse, quarterback Baker Mayfield entered the game with a rib injury and spent most of it limping after a first-half sack; outside of a garbage-time outburst against the Saints in Week 17, he hasn’t looked good in a couple of weeks.
Joe can’t argue with Billy there. Throw in Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales wants to run the ball so much despite the weakness of the Eagles is their pass defense. Unless Canales has a sudden unpredictable change of heart, Joe thinks the Bucs, at best, will be in a dogfight.
Yes, the Bucs have other passing weapons other than Evans. It doesn’t matter if they don’t pass.
January 12th, 2024 at 7:52 am
Just what is the problem with Canales not playing the Bucs strength?
Is he running just so every 6 games he can say “We stuck with it and it paid off”
If you’re built to throw. Throw the damn ball.
Very frustrating for fans.
January 12th, 2024 at 7:54 am
Yes keepaway will be the Eagles’ game plan.
January 12th, 2024 at 7:55 am
The only thing they are gonna figure out, is that they shouldn’t have won the first meeting.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Hopefully this won’t be a repeat of last year’s Pittsburgh game
January 12th, 2024 at 8:01 am
Depends if Canalas revives the playbook from that Green Bay game.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:02 am
It could be fugly.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:11 am
A banged up corner going up against a healthy ME13? Yes please! Throw it!
January 12th, 2024 at 8:17 am
Godwin will have to show up this week
January 12th, 2024 at 8:21 am
I am not sure where will be in his rehab. The hits and runs he took aren’t helpful for a rapid recovery. Hope I am wrong but when I had them it was painful just to take a deep breath.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:36 am
If it’s any consultation, Evan’s has played in 8 Monday night games. He has 601 yds, 42 receptions and 7 TD’s. Apparently he likes the lime light. On the other hand, this one is for you Wyoming Joe, Faker is 1-5 on Monday nights. NOT so good.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:37 am
Consulation, damn autofill.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:40 am
Come on consolation. Geez Louise
January 12th, 2024 at 8:50 am
Uppity NE Fan, your team is 4-13 🤣 and fired their head coach because they are trash without Tom Brady so you have no credibility to criticize the buccaneers because you are nothing more than a bandwagon, Tom Brady fan boy
January 12th, 2024 at 8:51 am
I have continually stated that the Bucs should use the TEs & RBs more in the passing game……but they have yet to do that. TEs getting only 3 or 4 targets.
This is the time to make that change.
January 12th, 2024 at 8:53 am
Stay balanced with the pass and run, play action, Godwin down the seams, screen passes with Whit and a healthy dose of Otton. At least one tuddie to Evan’s. This is the recipe for the Bucs to win Monday night. I will be there and Monday is my birthday so hopefully that will bring us some luck. Fingers crossed
January 12th, 2024 at 8:55 am
31-12 Eagles
January 12th, 2024 at 9:10 am
Home Team on Monday Night getting points is always a good bet historically.
Unfortunately they don’t put 3 points on the scoreboard before kick off.
If Hurts cannot go Eagles have Mariota that has taken a team to the AFC Championship with a good running game.
Would be a 1st and 2nd overall pick going against each other and should be a good game even with two quality back up QB’s.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Bucs 17-14 is my prediction Baker will connect for a long touchdown on the final drive to seal the win. Love how everyone talks about a putrid win in Carolina without saying the defense did in fact shit them out. In fact since we put the rookie pass rusher into starting lineup our defense has been top 5 in the NFL. This will be a good game but our buccaneers will win this one.
Now following week in SF is going be alot to ask but one game at a time.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:13 am
The Eagles will be coming for Mayfield’s ribs and ankle. The offensive line has to give him better protection, if he plays. I suspect he will.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:17 am
Jackieboy@ just stating the FACTS, Jack!!
January 12th, 2024 at 9:19 am
If we come out running and lose this game cuz these jackasses for coaches can’t see what the avg joe can see then please fire all of them
January 12th, 2024 at 9:37 am
D Cone,
Mayfield had a better regular season than Hurts. Besides, Hurts has the better O-line. So who is the back up?
January 12th, 2024 at 9:39 am
Loggedin@ Eagles had a much harder schedule than Myfield played against.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:39 am
Joe … ‘Throw in Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales wants to run the ball so much despite the weakness of the Eagles is their pass defense.’
The 1st game against the Eagles was effectively over at the half with the Bucs trailing 13-3. Our offense was abysmal, and continued to be so for the rest of the game (except for 1 garbage-time TD in the 4th qtr).
Bucs only had NINE drives in the entire game … 6 in the 1st half (30 plays) & only 3 in the 2nd half (15 plays). That’s the lowest number of drives & plays all season, by far. Our defense did great for that 1st half (especially given 2 Bucs’ turnovers that both gave the Eagles the ball well inside Bucs’ territory). Our offense though put on a pathetic show in the 1st half, and it got even worse in the 2nd half. The real question is WHY, and how to we FIX IT so that we do better Monday night?
Our offense simply couldn’t move the ball in the 1st half especially. Bucs had 12 first-and-10s in that half … we made 36 yards total, BUT only 2 plays were worth a hoot (a deep pass to Otton for 16 yds & a short pass to Godwin for 16 yds). The other 10 first down plays gained 4 yards TOTAL.
We were just as bad on 3rd down conversions unfortunately (3-for-7 in the 1st half, but 2 of those came on the single drive that we scored a FG on).
Not sure that running less though would’ve made any difference. Bucs only ran it 17 times in the game (compared to 27 passing attempts, 2 of which were sacks). The bigger problem was that almost nothing that we tried worked, thus we couldn’t sustain drives. Well that, and the fact that turnovers never help. Neither did some questionable play-calls.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:45 am
Bucs could only score by kicking field goals against the panthers. Anyone who thinks they’re about to walk out there and play like the did against green bay is in for a heavy dose of reality. Especially with a hobbled faker mayfield. It’s going to be a long night.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:46 am
Bucs must go with the passing game. No huddle three step drops. Too bad Canales doesn’t know how to call a two minute drill. Would love to see a hurry up offense that keeps the beagles defense from changing.
Defense needs to stop the run and get to Hurts and keep him from running. I don’t think the Eagles will be passing much in this game. Rain may be a big factor.
January 12th, 2024 at 9:57 am
GODWIN please!!!! Go Bucs
January 12th, 2024 at 10:26 am
If the Bucs can score more points than the Eagles do they will win this game.
That is my expert analysis…
January 12th, 2024 at 10:46 am
Here comes NE Fan with all his excuses like Philly had a harder strength of schedule blah blah blah.
Philly lost to the Giants bad and they rotated the #3 QB.
Matt Patricia will be their downfall this week.
NOBODY is afraid of the Eagles right now.
Whether that is right or wrong remains to be seen, but the difference this time is the BUCS KNOW they can win.
They have a massive D Line which actually hurts them in the screen game because they aren’t very mobile.
Just do what the Giants did.
Actually just do what 5 of the last 6 have done.
Pretty pathetic talking about strength of schedule when they lost like that.
January 12th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Throw in Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales wants to run the ball so much
– I really don’t know where Joe gets this from-
vs Saints , Bucs passed 33 times for 309 yds, but lost mainly because of 4 turnovers- Bucs only ran it 14 times
vs Panthers, Bucs passed 32 times for 137 yards and Mayfield scrambled 5 other times for 7 yards- Bucs ran it 24 times for 106 yards, which is not bad.
January 12th, 2024 at 11:02 am
Delusional..Hurts has been a turnover machine before his finger went all Swan Neck. One guy isn’t gonna turn the D from Tyrod Taylor’s bitche$ to the 85 Bears.
January 12th, 2024 at 11:04 am
Is Canales finally getting on board with the Offense he has here? I mean mentally game planning? Weather could also be a big factor. Buccos, dress for the weather and bring us a win. Go Bucs!!
January 12th, 2024 at 11:05 am
I love all the talk about the 9-0 win over Carolina. Focus seems to be on the nine rather than the zero.
January 12th, 2024 at 11:22 am
I must admit that, in contrast to all most everyone posting here, I don’t have a clue what will happen on Monday night!
Both QBs are hurt, both teams have weekly ups and downs, fans highly upset about both teams. Anyone sure of the outcome of this game is pure BS.
However, one thing is certain: The winner of this team plays the 49ers in Santa Clara (less than 5 miles from my childhood home) he next week. I can be CERTAIN who will win that game!
January 12th, 2024 at 11:23 am
What about a 9 point LOSS. The mighty KC Chiefs had that against the Broncos this year. Don’t see any Chiefs fans harping on that. Better Fan Base.
January 12th, 2024 at 11:34 am
BakerFan,
Context, please, my brother in Christ.
The WR targets for KC are bad. Not on our level. And Kelce has been “meh” this year.
I saw about halfway through the year, 20% of Mahomes incompletion rate was from “drops”.
Could you imagine if we had Kermit the Frog instead of Baker? Good god!
Also, rewatch our Super Bowl win against him. He was making some insane throws that weren’t caught. Evans on the sideline, “he’s a magician”.
January 12th, 2024 at 11:43 am
I thought if the 6th or 7th seed won for example if the Rams beat the Lions they would face the Niners next round
January 12th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
SteveK Says:
January 12th, 2024 at 11:34 am
BakerFan,
Context, please, my brother in Christ.
The WR targets for KC are bad. Not on our level. And Kelce has been “meh” this year.
I disagree of not having the targets…. they have 7 of the 8 receivers they had last year and only lost one Running Back that they had last year.
It is amazing how narratives get started by the press and people believe it. Those jokers are terrible at putting out false crap.
I am a Chiefs fan, my part of the world since I was a kid…. Mahomes drives me crazy, everyone gets all excited about the crap he completes but lets it slide when he does his lucy goofy crap and it gets intercepted. It is all about the narrative that the NFL wants people to believe.
January 12th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
NE Fan Says:
On the other hand, this one is for you Wyoming Joe, Faker is 1-5 on Monday nights. NOT so good.
—-
What is Mac Jones? 🙂 🙂
January 12th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
The season has taken its toll on Baker guys. He is quite banged up. Our only hope is he has enough protection and painkillers in him to play well. We might need to start throwing very early. And we must have our best pass rush of the season. I hope I am wrong, But I just do not see us winning. Prove us doubters wrong Bucs. Go out there and ball out.
January 12th, 2024 at 1:04 pm
I really hope the Bucs win and feel they have a great shot, but if they lose it won’t be nearly as catastrophic as Philly losing. Can you imagine their fans and the media? Catastrophic and funny as hell. Make it happen Bucs!!!
January 12th, 2024 at 2:07 pm
All of the pressure is on the Eagles. We should fire away and be aggressive all night. Won’t won’t. This feel more like 34-10 Birds. Canales is simply in over his head. Bowles will be Bowles. Baker melts down due to injury and heavy middle pressure (Hainsey and Mauch rag dolled all night). I hope they prove me wrong.
January 12th, 2024 at 2:14 pm
RBUC, you are correct…
Lowest winning seed will go to San Fran…
If we can beat Philly, and 6 or 7 seed win, that would get interesting…
I’d like to see both 6 & 7 seeds win, then we would have a 2nd playoff home game 🙂
January 12th, 2024 at 2:15 pm
Yeah, so pull for both Packers & Rams to win their games, haha!!
January 12th, 2024 at 2:18 pm
Like Joe, I’m sure the Eagles hope Baker comes out throwing. They won’t be dropping the three that bounced off Carolina defenders. Don’t have to worry about getting beat deep. Baker had trouble throwing it 5 yards last week, yeah come out slinging. Let’s see Mayfield slice, and dice the Eagles. Hope Joe gets his wish, and Baker throws it 50 plus times. That should work out well.
January 12th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
Sticking with the run has paid off. Look at the second game against Atlanta. The Falcons shut down both Evans and Godwin. BUT THE Bucs ran that ball right down the Falcons’ throat. And that les to the big pass to Godwin that set up the game winning TD.
And a great running game keeps Baker Mayfield’s ribs healthy.
January 12th, 2024 at 4:17 pm
Oregon not set yet we play 49ers if we win could be Rams or GB if one of them wins.
January 12th, 2024 at 4:37 pm
Tony Marks@ Mac Jones is 2-1 and he’s sucks, your point is???
January 12th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Sounds like Evans needs to step up and make Slay his b!tch
January 13th, 2024 at 9:13 am
Canales is attempting to run the ball because defenses are dropping two db back in deeper coverage to cover 13.
If the run game starts to cl8ck they will be forced to go to a single high safety to stop the run .which gives mike or trey a chance to get open.
Of course all this is dedicated on the o line doing their job.
The Eagles weak point is the linebackers.
Screenpass ,mis direction,some motion, and a big dose of Chris godwin,cade otton ,and #1 should soften them up long enough to take shots down the field to mike,trey,and #83.
Go bucs.
.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:21 am
I’m starting Vita Vea at RB and planning to run him 50+ times against the Eagles.
Pound and ground old school futball baybee!