The Bucs got here out onto the sector Sunday afternoon seeking to get again on monitor after shedding to the 0-2 Broncos final week. Going through the 2-1 Eagles, that they had a extra formidable challenger, they usually responded in addition to they may’ve drawn it up — particularly given the accidents they have been coping with. Tampa Bay raced out to a 24-0 lead within the first half and went on to win 33-16, attending to 3-1 forward of a tricky two-game stretch towards NFC South foes.
Here’s what — and who — was most spectacular within the Week 4 win:
Bucs’ First Offensive Drive
They did it.
After not placing collectively an opening-drive landing since Week 18 of the 2022 common season (23 video games), the Bucs lastly ended that drought. To open the sport, Tampa Bay went on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was well-called by offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
Coen utilized the weapons on offense by scheming up numerous movement to the flats, which allowed Rachaad White to seek out house for a 17-yard run and catch a display screen move for 22 yards. Because the crew was nearing the top zone, it was the always-reliable Mike Evans who hauled in a 2-yard landing to develop into the Bucs’ all-time main scorer.
Throughout, it was pretty much as good of a gap drive because the crew has had in a very long time.
QB Baker Mayfield
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Possibly it was the pre-game pep discuss from Tom Brady.
From the beginning of the sport, Baker Mayfield got here out firing, and by the center of the primary quarter, Mayfield had accomplished 12 of his 13 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. On the day, he accomplished 30 of 47 passes for 347 passing yards and two touchdowns.
In doing so, he was environment friendly and stayed poised within the pocket after a sport through which he scrambled to his demise to attempt to make issues occur. In opposition to an Eagles protection with loads of expertise, Mayfield distributed the ball to all his weapons, from Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and even Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard.
As if his efficiency together with his arm was not sufficient, he even took it himself on a learn choice from a yard out so as to add a dashing landing for good measure.
OC Liam Coen
From the start, Liam Coen referred to as an ideal sport because the Bucs put collectively three (and nearly 4) landing drives to make it a 24-0 sport. Whether or not it was utilizing loads of movement to get guys open or sprinkling in inventive runs, Coen schemed methods to get Baker Mayfield off to a scorching begin and for his weapons to get the ball and make chunk performs. The crew’s play-caller deserves credit score for a way he attacked issues this week.
Bucs Protection, Go Rush Shutting Down Jalen Hurts And Co.
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
A lot for the Eagles’ offense maintaining. The Bucs protection was lights-out all through the sport, forcing three-and-outs as Jalen Hurts struggled with out broad receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Working with a skeleton crew led by Jahan Dotson, Hurts didn’t get them the soccer. He completed the day finishing simply 18 of his 30 passes for 154 passing yards and a landing.
When it comes to move rush, Yaya Diaby utilized constant stress within the pocket and bought his first sack of the season whereas forcing a fumble on the play. Vita Vea created extra havoc within the trenches. Lavonte David was classic Lavonte David, racking up two sacks. Logan Corridor bought his first sack in a very long time. Anthony Nelson even added one. All in all, that they had six sacks on the day.
That is the type of defensive efficiency a stoic Todd Bowles will be fairly enthusiastic about.
ILB Lavonte David
Lavonte David’s nonetheless bought it.
David put collectively a powerful sport up the center and was the Bucs’ main tackler. Early on, he recorded his 1,five hundredth profession NFL sort out. Within the third quarter, David made a splash play when Jalen Hurts tried to seek out an open receiver. The veteran linebacker neatly got here up from behind to bat the ball out of his arms and notch a sack-fumble that defensive sort out Ben Stille recovered. He bought his second sack within the fourth quarter.
For Lavonte David, it was simply one other day on the workplace.
With the sack, David improved his profession sack complete to 34.5, tying him with Chidi Ahanotu for the seventh-most in franchise historical past. https://t.co/vJxCXRrRyf
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) September 29, 2024
Bucs’ Run Recreation – Lastly
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
It has been one thing followers and media alike have been clamoring for, and it lastly got here to fruition. Bucky Irving bought extra carries, and the run sport bought getting into a giant means.
Irving dazzled and turned his 10 carries into 49 dashing yards. He additionally made a catch that caught Tom Brady’s eye. Then, if that was not sufficient, he discovered the top zone in a while the identical drive for his first NFL landing.
It wasn’t fairly the flu sport for Rachaad White, however it was the meals poisoning sport for the younger operating again who was listed as questionable coming in. It was his greatest sport of the season and appeared extra just like the model of White from final yr who strung collectively some massive video games from scrimmage.
White had a 17-yard run on his first carry and caught a deflected move for 22 yards. These two performs bought him and the offense going. General, he matched Irving’s manufacturing on the bottom with 10 carries and 49 yards to go together with his two catches for 35 yards.
Add in Mayfield’s 1-yard landing run, and the run sport turned the web page after a sluggish early-season begin to have a productive afternoon.
WR Mike Evans
Bucs WR Mike Evans and former Bucs QB Tom Brady – Picture by: USA At this time
Mike Evans makes this listing after two quiet video games. Evans was overdue to be featured on offense, and he caught the primary ball thrown from Baker Mayfield to start the sport. He would have eight catches on the day for 94 receiving yards.
His spotlight of the day, and one of many greatest of his profession, ended the Bucs’ scoreless opening drive streak and etched him into the crew’s report books because the all-time main scorer with 596 factors.
Who higher to name it than a man who threw him loads of touchdowns in three years in Tampa Bay?
NT Vita Vea
Bucs DT Vita Vea – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs sorely missed Vita Vea’s presence after he suffered a knee damage in Week 2. Vea got here by early within the first quarter, sacking Jalen Hurts on third down and forcing them to punt.
These are the sorts of performs that the protection has wanted this season. With the massive man again, he was in a position to have an effect on the sport and shut the pocket round Hurts. He had two tackles for loss, together with the sack.
Bucs Offensive Line
The Bucs offensive line struggled final Sunday in surrendering seven sacks, however they cleaned it up mightily on Sunday. They gave Baker Mayfield a a lot cleaner pocket this time and did properly to create lanes for the operating backs to hit. Defensive finish Brandon Graham did go unguarded on the left aspect and bought a simple sack within the first quarter and defensive finish Josh Sweat added one other within the third quarter, however it was in any other case a principally clear sport from the massive guys.
Bucs WR No.3s Trey Palmer And Sterling Shepard
Filling in for Jalen McMillan, who suffered a hamstring damage on Friday, Trey Palmer did properly changing him because the crew’s third broad receiver. Early within the sport, Liam Coen utilized his pace getting into movement to catch the Eagles’ protection off guard, which resulted in him getting a few early touches.
His greatest play got here on the second drive, with Baker Mayfield throwing a dart throughout the center that Palmer hauled in for a 15-yard landing. After that play, he would go away the sport with a concussion, however he impressed within the time he noticed the sector.
Sterling Shepard then stuffed in for Palmer and re-established the connection he had together with his one-time Oklahoma Sooners quarterback. Shepard appeared as spry as ever, leaping to make a tricky catch for 30 yards. He had three catches for 51 receiving yards, a powerful 17-yards per catch.
Seeing different broad receivers exterior of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin getting concerned and having a huge impact was encouraging.
WR Chris Godwin
The opposite Bucs’ star broad receiver had fairly the day himself. Chris Godwin continued to be closely concerned and completed the sport with six catches for 69 receiving yards. That included a pleasant 28-yard catch and run within the first half down the appropriate sideline the place he put a transfer on cornerback Avonte Maddox. Godwin continued his nice begin with one other good efficiency.
Ok Chase McLaughlin
Chase McLaughlin linked on each subject objectives, together with a 52-yarder within the fourth quarter. McLaughlin is now 7-of-7 on subject objectives this yr and 3-3 from greater than 50 yards out.
ILB J.J. Russell – On Particular Groups
With the Bucs’ punt crew popping out for the primary time late within the first quarter, they recovered the soccer because of the instincts of inside linebacker J.J. Russell. Russell made the 53-man roster popping out of the preseason partially resulting from his particular groups abilities. Eagles punt returner/cornerback Cooper DeJean muffed the punt as defensive again Josh Hayes was pushed into him. With the ball there for the taking, Russell hustled and recovered it, giving the offense a brief subject as they appeared to make it a three-score sport.
