Eagles-Buccaneers Week 3: Birds stay undefeated
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Eagles were dominant on the ground, through the air, defensively and most importantly, on the scoreboard, as they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday 25-11 to move to 3-0 in the young NFL season.
D'Andre Swift kept the NFL world talking about "Swift" for a second consecutive day with his 130 yard evening, while Jalen Hurts threw and rushed for a touchdown and Jake Elliott contributing three field goals in the effort.
Entering the game, Philadelphia had the second-best rushing game in the league while the Buccaneers had the second-best rush defense. But it was the Eagles who won this key battle, gaining 201 yards through the ground, almost four times as much as the Bucs allowed on average through the first two games of the year (52)
Things went the Eagles way so much that even when Hurts got intercepted twice on the night, things went their way shortly thereafter. The first interception led to a forced fumble and recovery before an Elliott field goal, while the second led to a safety just one play later for Philadelphia.
Despite entering the game at 2-0, the Buccaneers never saw themselves with the lead playing at home.
The Eagles join the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers as the only remaining undefeated teams in the league.
It's all over
That's it! Eagles eat up the clock and win it 25-11.
2 minute warning
The Eagles understood the mission since the Buccaneers last touchdown - eating up clock and now only 2 minutes remain.
Philadelphia leads 25-11.
Don't call it a comeback ... yet
This was perhaps the best drive for the Buccaneers tonight. It stalled a bit once they got in the red zone, but Baker Mayfield finds Mike Evans for a 1 yard TD catch to make it 25-11 after a successful two-point conversion..
Tampa Bay went 75 yards in 10 plays.
9:22 left in the game.
Close, but more points on the board for the Eagles
The hometown Birds got close to adding another touchdown to their lead, but have to settle for 3 and now it's 25-3 with 13:28 left in the game.
End of the 3rd Quarter
The Eagles are driving after getting a safety as the 3rd Quarter comes to an end.
Eagles lead 22-3 with just 15 minutes remaining in Tampa Bay.
Safety for the Birds!
The Hurts interception turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Eagles.
Starting at their own 1 yard line, the Buccaneers tried to run it up the middle but Philadelphia broke through the offensive line and caused a safety!
22-3 Eagles lead with 3:35 left in the 3rd Quarter.
Bucs intercept Hurts at the 1!
Jalen Hurts threw a deep bomb from the Buccaneers 41 yard line. but Buccaneers Dee Delaney picks him off at the 1 yard line!
Go crazy Swifties, go crazy!
With his last run of 29 yards, D'Andre Swift breaks the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game.
Everybody must've known this was coming and that's why Swift was trending yesterday, right?
Another injury update from the Eagles
With less than 5 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter, an injury update from the Birds.
Injury Update: S Justin Evans has been ruled out. https://t.co/Ld3jigxbr9
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 26, 2023
Swift ... no, not that one ... making plays
Touchdown Eagles! 20-3 Philadelphia with 9:12 left in the 3rd Quarter.
The star of the drive was D'Andre Swift, who broke off two big runs - including a 26-yard rush up the middle that included him leaping over a defender - as the Eagles went 75 yards in 13 plays.
Jalen Hurts got the TD on the drive with the patented Eagles QB sneak breaking through on a 4th-and-goal.
2nd Half gets underway
We are back!
Eagles lead 13-3 and have the ball at the 25 to start the 3rd Quarter.
Injury update
Just as the half was coming to an end, the Eagles issued an update
Injury Update: S Sydney Brown (thigh) is questionable to return.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 26, 2023
Final points in the half
A 38-yard field goal from Jake Elliott ends the half and the Eagles go to the locker room up 13-3.
Philadelphia will get the ball to start the second half.
The Birds lead the yardage battle 228-87, with both teams getting six drives during the first half.
Turnover party!
Just as the Eagles got a first down thanks to a hands-to-the-face penalty, Jalen Hurts throws an interception on a pass intended for D'Andre Swift.
Buccaneers ball with 48 seconds remaining.
But then two plays later the Bucs fumble the football when Jalen Carter forces the dropped ball and the Eagles get it again with 24 seconds left in the half on the Tampa 36.
Interception Eagles!!!!
Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield throws his first interception of the season as Reed Blankenship picks him off at the Buccaneer 37.
The Eagles get one play off to move the ball six yards as we reach the 2-minute warning.
Had a great Reed on it. 🤷🏻♂️
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) September 26, 2023
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES!!!
Jalen Hurts found time in the pocket, got a throw off just in time as defenders finally got to him and found Olamide Zaccheaus 34 yards downfield for the touchdown!
Point after is good.
10-3 Philadelphia over Tampa Bay with 3:32 left in the half.
It was a 8 play, 84 yard drive for the Eagles.
Bucs fighting back
The 2nd Quarter did not start the way the Eagles wanted.
Their drive stalled and they punted away.
In the ensuing Tampa Bay possession, they got their offense started (and were helped by a Pass Interference penalty on Eagles CB Josh Jobe on a 3rd-and-8) before settling on a game-tying 33-yard field goal with 8:30 remaining in the first half.
It could've been a lot worse for the Eagles though, Just before the field goal attempt, Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans had his hands on a touchdown pass but could not wrangle it as Sydney Brown swatted it away.
End of the 1st Quarter
That's it for the first quarter - Eagles lead 3-0.
Philadelphia has the lead in total yards so far 113-34.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense will start the 2nd Quarter on their own 46.
Eagles D remains solid
Another 3-and-out for the Buccaneers - the second time the Philadelphia defense has stood firm tonight - and the Eagles have the ball again.
Less than 2 minutes remain in the first quarter.
Points on the board for the Birds
A promising drive for the Philadelphia Eagles stalls after an ineligible player downfield penalty stops momentum.
But the Birds get points on the board after a Jake Elliott 36-yard field goal gives Philadelphia a 3-0 lead with 3:05 left in the first quarter.
Momentum for the Birds
The Eagles defense has been solid so far, shutting down Baker Mayfield and the Bucs on their second drive to force another punt.
Britain Covey then put on a show, returning a 59-yard-punt 52-yards to give Philadelphia another drive in the Tampa Bay half.
OKAY COVEYYYYYY 👀
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 25, 2023
Sooo close ...
The Eagles were making it look easy to start - taking just six plays to go 60 yards deep into Buccaneers territory.
And they almost got the first touchdown of the game when Jalen Hurts found Olamide Zaccheaus in the end zone - but it hit him in the helmet and fell to the ground.
The Birds went for it on 4th-and-1 but lost a yard to turn it over on downs.
Time for Hurts and Co.
The Buccaneers got a first down, but their drive stalled shortly after that and punted.
Jalen Hurts and the Birds will start from their own 25 in their first drive of the game with a little over 12 minutes left in the first quarter.
Let's get started!
The game is underway from Raymond James Park in Tampa Bay, Fla.
Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers get the ball first.
Eagles get first win of the night
OK, it was only the coin toss - but every victory counts, right?
The Eagles have won the coin toss and chosen to defer.
The Buccaneers will receive the ball.
View from the sportsbook
With action about to get underway, how do the sportsbooks see the matchup going tonight?
Tonight's matchup opened up with the Philadelphia Eagles a 7-point favorite. With just seconds to go before kickoff, the line has shifted down to the Eagles as 5.5-6 point favorites depending on the sportsbook.
The total of the game has only shifted slightly - opening at 44.5 points and now set at 44.
Eagles list their inactives
The Eagles have listed the inactive players for tonight's game
- WR Quez Watkins
- QB Tanner McKee
- CB Mario Goodrich
- RB Boston Scott
- OL Tyler Steen
- DT Moro Ojomo
- TE Albert Okwuegbunam
For their part, the Buccaneers list of inactives include:
- LB Sirvocea Dennis
- CB Carlton Davis
- DL Deadrin Senat
- OLB Markees Watts
- T Brandon Walton
- TE Payne Durham
- DL Calijah Kancey
Two games tonight
There will be plenty of chatter about the NFL tonight, but not all of it will be about the Eagles game.
The Birds-Buccaneers game is the first of two Monday Night Football games tonight. Kickoff for the game is 7:15 p.m. ET. An hour later, the Los Angeles Rams will play the Cincinnati Bengals.
The NFL's current media deal allowed for the creation of Monday Night doubleheaders.