The Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 4 of the NFL season riding high after the defense dominated and the offense rallied late for a 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Next, Philly returns to the stadium where its 2023 season ended: Raymond James Stadium.
The Eagles (2-1) will play their second straight road game — and third game away from the Linc in four weeks — against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at 1 p.m. The big question going in for Philadelphia: Who will be available for quarterback Jalen Hurts to throw to?
Philly could realistically be without its top three wide receivers for this game. A.J. Brown missed his second consecutive game in Week 3 and hasn’t been able to practice since suffering a hamstring injury 11 days ago. DeVonta Smith enters the week in concussion protocol after taking a brutal hit by Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Britain Covey, also the team’s top punt returner, is reportedly out for two months due to a broken bone in his injured shoulder.
There are other injuries to monitor on the offensive line, after right tackle Lane Johnson (concussion) and right guard Mekhi Becton (finger) both left the Saints game in the first half. The good news? Both Tyler Steen — who was a wrecking ball Sunday — and Fred Johnson held up well as the Eagles scored all 15 of their points in the fourth quarter.
Will the Eagles have enough of their weapons available to outduel Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers (2-1), who should enter this one with added focus after last week’s letdown against the Denver Broncos? Here’s what the NFL experts are saying.
NFL picks, predictions Week 4: Eagles at Buccaneers
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Eagles 24, Buccaneers 20
Iyer: "The Eagles may be down DeVonta Smith along with A.J. Brown for Jalen Hurts, who is headed to leaning a lot more on Saquon Barkley and Dallas Goedert. Hurts and Philadelphia lost at Tampa Bay in two of the past three playoffs, but they will be ready here after getting the defense on track for Vic Fangio last week. Baker Mayfield will do his best to stay with Hurts, thanks to his two-wideout edge, but the Buccaneers' rushing attack can't get it done here.”
Bill Bender, Sporting News: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 28
Bender: "This is a rematch of last year's NFC wild-card matchup, which Tampa Bay won 32-9 behind Baker Mayfield's 337-yard, three-TD performance. So, why are the Eagles favored? Saquon Barkley is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and that has given the Eagles balance around Jalen Hurts. Linebacker Zach Baun, who ranks second in the NFL with 37 tackles, had anchored an improved defense that has allowed 204.3 yards per game. Tampa Bay's Week 3 flop also influences this pick a bit.”
Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Eagles 24, Buccaneers 21
Cluff: "If Denver can rush for 136 yards on Tampa Bay, how many yards can Saquon Barkley and the Eagles gain on the ground against the Buccaneers?”
Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 21
Johnson: "Unless the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense gets Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey and Antoine Winfield Jr. back for this matchup, it’s tough to see them coming out of Week 4 with a victory. Tampa Bay’s offense is sluggish right now while the Philadelphia Eagles defense just slowed down the buzzsaw that was the Saints’ offense. Of far greater concern, the Bucs’ ability to stop Saquon Barkley with Philadelphia having such a huge advantage at the line of scrimmage.”
Martin Frank, Delaware News Journal: Eagles 26, Buccaneers 20
Frank: “Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles has had Hurts and the Eagles’ number the last two times in the playoffs (2021 and 2023 wild-card rounds) as the Bucs have won by a combined score of 63-24. It’ll take another ball-control game from Hurts and Saquon Barkley to pull this one out."
MORE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NEWS:
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