Since 2000, some of the Eagles Most Significant Games Have Come Against the Buccaneers. This Sunday Afternoon is No Exception.
In October of 2009, a talented Eagles team under Andy Reid hosted a home game at Lincoln Financial Field against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Eagles were 2–1 that season and were waiting for the combined talent of Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Brian Westbrook and Brent Celek to break out and take the Eagles deep into the postseason.
In recent years — the Eagles dominate nucleus that had brought Philadelphia one NFC Championship, one Super Bowl appearance, and five NFC East Championships — had been aging. In this 33–14 Eagles win, featuring three Donovan McNabb touchdown passes — the 2–1 Eagles would gain momentum that would carry them into the postseason.
For over two decades, few matchups between the Eagles and other NFC teams have been as significant, lasting, and memorable as the battles between the Eagles and the Bucs. Whether it was Jon Gruden outmaneuvering Any Reid, Tony Dungy unable to beat the Eagles in the playoffs, DeSean Jackson running all over the Tampa secondary in 2013, or Nick Foles throwing his first NFL game-winning touchdown at Raymond James Stadium in 2012 — the games have been memorable to say the least.
Nearly one year ago at the Linc — the Eagles beat Baker Mayfield and the Bucs 25–11 on the way to a 10–1 start. At the basement bottom of last season, the Eagles dropped a playoff game in Raymond James Stadium in a 32–9 final that was in fact, forgettable. In a game that would prove to be Jason Kelce’s last, the Eagles didn’t show out. They didn’t show up.
This year’s matchup also has significance. After an impressive showing in Brazil, the Eagles clearly lost a game that they lost a game that they could have won against Atlanta in week 2, and clearly won a game against New Orleans that they clearly could have lost in week 3.
The significance is not lost on Tampa, either. The undefeated Buccaneers (now 2–1) were routed on Sunday 26–7 in Denver. For both teams, a .500 record shows nothing about whether or not they are going to elevate to NFC Playoff contention or sink to NFC irrelevancy.
If the Eagles expect to continue to create separation between the Giants and Cowboys in the NFC East — and for a team as talented as the Eagles, there would be no room for a loss. What it will be, is almost certainly another great matchup.
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