PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles are returning to their house of horrors for the fifth time in five seasons when they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’ll be the sixth time the Eagles are facing the Bucs in five seasons, an incredible amount considering that they are not in the same division. The Bucs are 4-1 in the previous five games, 3-1 in Tampa.
So the Eagles are changing up their plans this time, hoping that will lead to better results. As the famous saying goes: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni saw how his team wilted in the Tampa heat and humidity during their 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers in their Sept. 29, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium. That game was played at 1 p.m. The two teams are playing at the same time on the exact same weekend on Sept. 28.
The National Weather Service is calling for a high temperature of 92 degrees on game day, with a real feel of 99 degrees.
That’s why the Eagles are leaving for Tampa on Sept. 26, so they can hold their walkthrough practice the next day in Tampa, and thus acclimate to the heat and humidity.
“Everything we do is to try … (to make sure) that our process is right to give ourselves the best chance to win,” Sirianni said. “If the process is off, then you don’t have as much of a chance. So that was part of our process when we studied some things in the offseason with the heat and everything like that. Get out there a day earlier to acclimate. One less day off the plane before you play a game.”
But there are a few things that need debunking as to the Eagles’ attempt to beat the heat − and the Bucs.
One is last year’s game was the only one of the previous five played in the heat and humidity. The first game, in 2021, was in Philly, and the second was in the playoffs in January 2022. The common denominator in both was that the Bucs had won the Super Bowl the season before, Tom Brady was the quarterback, and Sirianni was in his first season with the Eagles as was Hurts as the full-time starting QB.
The Eagles won in Tampa in September 2023, but that was a night game. The Eagles lost in the playoffs at the end of that season, also in a night game in January.
So last season’s game was the only one in the heat. And in that game, the Eagles didn’t have wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith along with right tackle Lane Johnson, all out with injuries.
But hey, you can’t fault the Eagles for trying something new. Will it work? Here is how our experts see the game going:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)
Martin Frank
For years under Todd Bowles, the Bucs’ defense has been kryptonite for Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, who’s 1-4 against Tampa Bay since 2021, including playoffs. In those games, Hurts has completed 59.1% of his passes, with 5 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His passer rating is 74.6. Offensively, the Bucs are dangerous, even without WR Mike Evans, who’s out with a hamstring injury. The Bucs are expected to have Delaware native WR Chris Godwin back from a broken ankle. With QB Baker Mayfield and rookie WR Emeka Egbuka playing well, that’s too much heat for the Eagles to handle.
The pick: Buccaneers 27, Eagles 20
Greg Giesen
This game will come down to the weather. The forecast is calling for scattered showers, sun, humidity and highs in the 80s. The Eagles will need to grab bananas, Gatorade, IV fluids, whatever they can to stay fresh, hydrated and cramp free. Even if they do all of this, it’s still going to be a tough test on the road. If the Eagles continue to chuck the ball around they have a shot. If they revert to the conservative game plan they’re cooked.
The pick: Eagles 31, Buccaneers 27
Kevin Tresolini
The Bucs have won their three games by a combined six points. This one will be close, too, but they’re not going to prevail this time, despite the Eagles’ recent futility in Florida. Baker Mayfield throwing his first interception of the year would be a big boost for the Eagles.
The pick: Eagles 23, Bucs 19
Brandon Holveck
The absence of Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans who has four touchdown grabs in five career games against the Eagles is a big boost to Philadelphia’s chances. Will Quinyon Mitchell travel with rookie Emeka Egbuka? Or play to the field against the rotation of Egbuka, Middletown native Chris Godwin and Sterling Shepard? Either way, it is better than having to account for the 6-foot-5 Evans, too.
The pick: Eagles 28, Buccaneers 20
Bob Jordan
Glad to see the crackdown on the tush push − on the New Orleans Saints, who were flagged after a false start in Week 3. Meanwhile, the zebras said the Eagles’ pushes were all good and Jason Kelce’s “I think the play is done” proclamation is a bit premature in these parts.
The pick: Eagles 24, Buccaneers 17
Tom Rimback
Let’s face it. The Buccaneers have the Eagles’ number. Seems like they always have. Tampa has won four of the last five meetings, four of the six playoff meetings, and 13 of the 24 meetings overall. Sunday will be the fifth straight time the game is in their ridiculous stadium with their hokey Pirate-ship end zone. Everything points to the first loss of the season.
The pick: Eagles 40, Buccaneers 6
Tom McGurk
Don’t you think Nick Sirianni and the rest of the Birds will be fired up for this rematch? Sunday will be a shot at redemption for last year’s stinker at Raymond James Stadium. Look for the Birds to beat the heat and the Bucs this time around. Another big week for Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown while this young and relentless Eagles’ defense takes another step forward.
The pick: Eagles 26, Buccaneers 13
Tom Moore
The unbeaten Bucs hand the Eagles their first loss after some extremely close calls.
The pick: Buccaneers 27, Eagles 24
Brad Myers
May be the return of Chris Godwin.
Will be the continuation of the tush push.
The pick: Eagles 27, Buccaneers 24
Michelle Ganassi
To borrow from the Queen of Philly I’m “not gonna lie,” the Rams game had me nervous. As a Steelers fan I am always worried about those games that should be easy to win. But alas here I go. The Eagles will maintain their undefeated streak and so will I.
The pick: Eagles 24, Buccaneers 20
Tom Haines
A house of horrors, for sure. Even before Brady and the bunch knocked the Birds out of the 2022 playoffs and Baker Mayfield did the same two seasons later, don’t forget Vanilla Ice wannabe Ryan Fitzpatrick torching the Eagles for 400 yards in 2018 or Matt Bryant nailing a 62-yard field goal as the clock expired in 2006. And that’s just the sample size from this millennium. But we’re dealing with the now and, despite some unsettling injury news, it’s time to rewrite the narrative.
The pick: Eagles 28, Buccaneers 23
Bert Bainbridge
The Buccaneers have been dealt a huge blow with No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans sidelined for this one and the foreseeable future as recovers from a hamstring injury. However, the team is getting back former Penn State alum and fellow wideout Chris Godwin.
As most have mentioned above, the Birds traveling to play in Tampa Bay has been a nightmare for the franchise in recent history. Will that change in Week 4?
It’s close, but ultimately the Bucs, who have won each of their first three games in the last minute of regulation, stay undefeated as placekicker Chase McLaughlin keeps that streak going as he drills another game-winning field goal with under a minute left with Tampa Bay narrowly coming out on top in this must-see battle of undefeated teams on Sunday.
The pick: Buccaneers 23, Eagles 20
Overall records
3-0: Rimback, Moore, Holveck, Haines, Giesen, Ganassi, Myers
2-1: Frank, Bainbridge, McGurk, Tresolini
0-3: Jordan
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