Ugly end to the season: Philadelphia Eagles knocked out of playoffs after loss to Buccaneers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Eagles couldn't muster any magic from their 2022 season to begin a postseason run on Monday night.

The Birds were eliminated from the playoffs after a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round at Raymond James Stadium. 

The Eagles struggled at the end of the year entering the postseason and lost five of their final six regular season games, and that was on full display in the loss that ended the 2023 season. 

Whether it was missed tackles, poor game-planning, and play-calling or execution, the Eagles didn't have any answers for anything the Buccaneers threw at them. 

Jalen Hurts, who played through an injured middle finger in his throwing hand, struggled with the blitz all night. He completed 25 of his 35 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown to tight end Dallas Goedert. 

The Eagles missed A.J. Brown big time in the loss, even though DeVonta Smith had a massive night. With Brown sidelined due to a knee injury, Smith had eight catches for 148 yards. 

The Eagles defense got torched all night by Baker Mayfield and Tampa's offense. Mayfield threw for three scores and tight end Cade Otton led the Bucs in receiving. 

Now, the Eagles will enter an offseason filled with questions and plenty of tough decisions to make. 

The playoff exit also might be the final game in a Eagles uniform for franchise greats Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham.

 

Philadelphia Eagles eliminated from playoffs after loss to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in wild card round

The Philadelphia Eagles couldn't muster any magic from their 2022 season to begin a postseason run on Monday night.

The Birds were eliminated from the playoffs after a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild card round at Raymond James Stadium. 

The Eagles struggled at the end of the year entering the postseason and lost five of their final six regular season games, and that was on full display in the loss that ended the 2023 season. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Baker adds to lead

The Eagles might as well start packing their bags. 

Baker Mayfield connected with wideout Chris Godwin for a 23-yard touchdown pass to give the Bucs a 32-9 lead. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Eagles fail to convert on 4th down

This failed conversion might do it for the Eagles. 

After the Bucs got called for offsides on a field goal attempt, the Birds elected to go for it on fourth-and-five from Tampa's 17-yard line. 

But, unfortunately, DeVonta Smith couldn't haul in the pass from Jalen Hurts. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs extend lead, defense gets burnt

Same old song and dance for the Eagles' defense -- they can't stop anyone through the air and they can't tackle. 

Baker Mayfield connected with wideout Trey Palmer for a 56-yard touchdown pass to gigve the Bucs a commanding 25-9 lead late in the third quarter. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs force safety on Hurts

The Eagles ended the first half with life, but that hasn't translated into the second half. 

Late in the third quarter with the Eagles deep in their own territory, the Bucs forced a safety on Jalen Hurts on third-and-six from Philadelphia's 14 yard-line. 

The Bucs now lead, 18-9. 

Time is running out for the Eagles to figure things out or their season is over. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Julio Jones ruled out

Veteran wide out Julio Jones was ruled after he was being evaluated for a concussion. 

The Birds are already without A.J. Brown, who's dealing with a knee injury. 

Jones took a nasty shot from a Bucs defender in the first half and left the game. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs lead Eagles at halftime

If this keeps up, the Eagles will be packing their bags and heading home for the playoffs.

The Bucs lead the Eagles, 16-9, at halftime in the wild card round of the playoffs at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. 

It's Week 19, the first round of the playoffs, but the Eagles have looked lost and underprepared through two quarters. They've played sloppy, missed tons of tackles and the offense for the most part hasn't had answers for the Bucs' blitz-happy defense. 

But, they showed some life at the end of the first half after Dallas Goedert's 5-yard touchdown reception from Jalen Hurts. The score was set up by a 55-yard bomb from Hurts to wideout DeVonta Smith. 

Hurts, who's playing through a finger injury on his throwing hand, has completed 14 of his 20 passes for 165 yards and the touchdown to Goedert. 

Smith leads the team in receiving with A.J. Brown missing the game with an injury. He has four catches for 111 yards. 

Baker Mayfield and Tampa's offense haven't had any problems moving the ball so far. He's completed 11 of his 24 passes for 174 yards, including a 44-yard score to wideout David Moore. 

The Bucs picked up 15 first downs in the first half. 

Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin booted in three field goals for Tampa.   

By Tom Ignudo
 

Julio Jones being evaluated for concussion

The Eagles are already pretty thin at wideout with A.J. Brown injured, and it now it looks like they'll be without veteran Julio Jones. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Dallas Goedert scores, Eagles have life

The Eagles have some life after looking lifeless for the most part through two quarters. 

Dallas Goedert hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts to make it a one-score game, 16-9. 

The Eagles attempted the two-point conversion on the "Brotherly Shove" but it failed. 

The play was set up by a 55-yard bomb to DeVonta Smith from Jalen Hurts. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs settle for another FG

Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin drilled a 48-yard field goal to add to the Bucs lead in the second quarter, 16-3. 

The Eagles' defense has struggled to tackle all night, and they've also gotten very lucky as Bucs skill position players have dropped several passes. 

Baker Mayfield has had a sold night thus far, completing 10 of his 20 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Eagles finally on the board

Jake Elliott hit a 47-yard field goal to finally put the Eagles on the board midway through the second quarter, 13-3. 

The Eagles started off the drive with two passes to DeVonta Smith to set them up in Bucs territory but they had to settle for the field goal. 

Once again, the Eagles had no answers for the blitz on third down. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs extend lead

Tampa kicker Chase McLaughlin hit a 54-yard field goal to extend Tampa's lead, 13-0, early in the second quarter. 

The Eagles' defense actually did something positive on the latest series, though. 

Edge rusher Josh Sweat recorded his first sack since Nov. 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Linebacker Zach Cunningham nearly came away with an interception on Baker Mayfield, but he couldn't hold on, which led to the Bucs hitting the field goal. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Brutal Goedert drop

The Eagles had a chance to extend a drive in the first quarter, but tight end Dallas Goedert couldn't hold onto the ball. 

On third-and-three from their own 32-yard line, Hurts tossed a pass to Goedert as he was heading toward the sideline but he couldn't corral it. 

So far, the Hurts has completed 3 of his 5 passes for 12 yards -- not great. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs take 10-0 lead

This one could get ugly if the Eagles don't respond. 

The Bucs took a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter over the Birds after David Moore hauled in a 44-yard touchdown pass. 

The Bucs are having no problem picking apart the Eagles' zone defense so far in this one. 

So much for that change to Matt Patricia calling the defensive plays. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Eagles still have no answers against the blitz

The Eagles had their first test against the Bucs blitz Monday night and it didn't end well. 

It looked like Hurts checked the call at the line of the scrimmage, but regardless, it ended with an incomplete pass to tight end Dallas Goedert on his second target of the game. 

The Bucs blitz at the third-highest rate in the NFL 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Bucs settle for FG

The Eagles got extremely lucky on the first drive of the game. 

Kicker Chase McLaughlin booted in a 28-yard field goal with 10:02 left in the first quarter to give the Bucs a 3-0 lead, but it could've been much worse. 

Tampa marched down the field effortlessly on the 12-play drive that ate up about five minutes of the clock. 

Baker Mayfield hooked up for two passes over the middle to wide-open skill position players. He completed 3 of his 7 passes for 39 yards. 

Rachaad White also had 19 yards on three carries, averaging 6.3 yards per clip. 

Cornerback James Bradberry missed a tackle on White that led to the Bucs getting a first down. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Rob McElhenney watches Eagles from Emmys

Eagles fans most likely weren't happy they had to wait around all weekend and watch the Birds on Monday night. 

That includes Philadelphia native and creator of "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Rob McElhenney. 

McElhenney was taking in the action from the Emmys. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

ESPN broadcast picks Bucs to beat Eagles

The Eagles are somehow favorites to beat the Bucs on Monday night, despite losing five of the past six games heading into the playoffs. 

And during the pregame show on ESPN, the entire broadcast picked the Bucs to beat the Eagles to advance and play the Lions. 

The same incident happened on Sunday with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys -- and we know how that turned out. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Hurts arrives for Eagles-Bucs

Jalen Hurts, who's dealing with an injury to his middle finger on his throwing hand, arrived for Eagles-Bucs with what appears to be medical tape on his middle and index finger. 

How Hurts performs with his injured finger will be a major storyline in Monday night's game. 

By Tom Ignudo
 

Sports Director Don Bell preview Eagles-Bucs

Sports Director Don Bell and Photojournalist Casey Kuhn are on the field at Raymond James Stadium as the Eagles get ready for their wild-card match up against the Bucs in Tampa. More Birds content? You got it! READ MORE: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 matchups to watch: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/eagles-vs-buccaneers-matchups-to-watch-wildcard-nfl-playoffs/

Posted by CBS Philadelphia on Monday, January 15, 2024
By Don Bell
 

Inactives for Eagles, Bucs

By Tom Ignudo
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.