Eagles fans would love Baker Mayfield if he were an Eagle. Instead, Mayfield will be a bane this Sunday at 1 p.m. when the 3-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the 3-0 Eagles at Raymond James Stadium.
The Bucs are the first team in NFL history during the Super Bowl era to have won in the last minute of their first three games, and the third team since 1970 with a game-winning score in the final minute of the game in three-straight games at any point in season—a tight rope that makes Tampa Bay a breakable team.
Mayfield has led those late charges and has been fantastic this season. He is tied for No. 5 in the NFL with six touchdown passes against no interceptions. He has fit passes into tight windows, hitting deep passes, slot fades, and has a very capable target in Emeka Egbuka, who has become the Bucs’ go-to receiver with Mike Evans unable to play due to a hamstring injury.
The Bucs like to go vertical, and it will be interesting how Eagles’ defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will attack with a zone. In Tampa’s 33-16 pummeling of the Eagles last year in Week 4, Mayfield was 30 of 47 for 347 yards and two touchdowns. Mayfield was sacked twice in the game, which is only one less than what the Eagles have total through their first three games this season.
How will the Eagles defend Mayfield and the Bucs, whose passing attack is only ranked No. 22 in the NFL, averaging 191.7 yards passing a game, not much better than the No. 29-ranked Eagles’ passing game (146.7)? Tampa does have an overall better offense, statistically, averaging 322.3 total yards a game, with an average of 130.7 yards on the ground.
With cornerback Jakorian Bennett placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, and dubious Adoree’ Jackson battling a groin injury, the Eagles may have to turn to cornerback Kelee Ringo, who the Eagles gave a chance to start and lost faith in him, forcing Fangio to play Jackson and Bennett over him.
“Well, they’re very balanced,” Fangio said this week about the Tampa Bay offense. “They run it good, they throw it good, they have really good receivers. The quarterback is playing really good. He’s a scrambler. He scrambled, I think, 11 times this year for close to 120 yards already, so that’s always an issue. I’ve always liked [Buccaneers QB Baker] Mayfield. I think he’s a good quarterback. Why these teams that had him didn’t keep him, I don’t know? But GMs make mistakes, just like coaches do. I’ve always liked Mayfield. And their backs run hard and good, so they’ve got balance.
“We just didn’t play well (last year against Tampa). They did, and they took it to us.”
In three games this season, Egbuka has been targeted 21 times and caught 14 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns.
“I’ve told Kelee here recently, not in the last few days, but since the end of camp,” Fangio said. “He’s going to get his opportunity at some point, and he’s got to be ready.”
Mayfield loses Evans, but he will get back left tackle Tristan Wirfs, but right tackle Luke Goedeke will be out, replaced by Charlie Heck. This is where the Eagles, who will be without edge rusher Nolan Smith, who injured his triceps and will be out until Week 8, could take advantage. The Bucs’ offensive line is currently a patchwork that is highly vulnerable.
