Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are taking on Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this Week 4 matchup. Both teams enter the game with records of 2-1. They’ll be featured this Sunday, September 29th at 1:00 p.m. ET on Fox. Let’s take a look at this Eagles-Buccaneers preview.
The Eagles are 1.5 favorites on the road in this NFC Conference matchup. The over-under is set at 43.0. Philadelphia comes into this game off of a gritty win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. Week 2 had them fall in the closing seconds to Kirk Cousins and the Falcons on Monday night, while they stole the show in Brazil in Week 1 against the Packers. AJ Brown is unlikely to play in Week 4, and things aren’t looking great for Devonta Smith who didn’t practice again Thursday.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like world beaters in Week’s 1 and 2 and Baker Mayfield was earning every bit of that 100-million-dollar contract he signed in the off-season. In Week 1 they put up 37 points in victory over the Commanders and in Week 2 they upset one of the NFC favorites in the Detroit Lions. Their reality check came in Week 3 when Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos came to town and beat them 26-7.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview and Predictions
Saquon Barkley Over 77.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
The Buccaneers have allowed a lot of rushing yards in each game in the 2024 season so far. With AJ Brown likely out, and Devonta Smith very much questionable. The Eagles are going to rely on the ground game to pound the clock out in this one. When odds are available for Jalen Hurts rushing yards, I’d strongly suggest looking at those as well.
In Week 1 against the Commanders Jayden Daniels torched the team for 88 rushing yards while Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler added 50 more. In Week 2 Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 84 yards while David Montgomery added an additional 35. Week 3 had the relatively unknown Tyler Badie running for 70 yards while Bo Nix tossed in 47 of his own. The Eagles have already relied heavily on Barkley this season. With rushing totals of 109, 95, and 147 yards respectively through three weeks.
🛑 Pump those Bucky Irving brakes 🛑
Seems to have picked up a hamstring injury in practice yesterday 🤕
Limited practice Wednesday & downgraded to no practice today 📉
NOT a good sign for his Week 4 availability… Rachaad White for 25 carries, 50 yards here we come!… https://t.co/PtdJVaKTcV
— Sebastian Fearon DPT, CSCS, OCS (@TheDegenDoc) September 26, 2024
Rachaad White Over 20 Yards Receiving (+100)
This number seems entirely too low for the circumstances of this game. In three weeks the Eagles have given up at least 20 yards receiving to the main running back for the other team. Rachaad White has been inefficient on the ground, but where he thrives is in the passing game. He proved that in Week 1 where he caught all six targets that went his way for 75 yards. He got the targets and catches again in Week 3 against Denver, the Broncos just shut the plays down.
Now with Bucky Irving’s late-week hamstring adding him to the injury report. It seems all the work will go to White and if he can’t get things going running the ball. They are going to want to get him the ball in stage and give him an opportunity to work through the passing game.
