Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles Preview
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles begin their playoff journey on Monday night football. The game will take place at Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium on January 15th, at 8:15 pm EST. It is the last game of the NFL Wild Card Round and only one team will go through. Who will come out on top in this round of knockout football?
Head coaches Todd Bowles and Nick Sirianni will have a challenging task ahead of them. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the champions of the NFC South and they take on second in the NFC East Division. This is not the first time these two franchises have met at this stage in the competition. In 2021, Tampa Bay defeated Philadelphia 31-15. Now that time has passed, can the Bucs hold on to their title as NFC South Champions and go all the way to the Super Bowl?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles Head-To-Head and Key Stats
During their week three meeting in September 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an 11-25 win. It was an impressive performance from the Eagles’ offense, which accumulated a whopping 472 yards. All-star running back D’Andre Swift led the way with 130 rushing yards. In comparison, wide receiver A.J. Brown contributed with 131 receiving yards, along with quarterback Jalen Hurts, who scored a rushing touchdown. The Eagles’ defense played outstandingly, limiting the Bucs to just 41 rushing yards and 133 passing yards. Safety Reed Blankenship combined with Jalen Carter to end the Bucs’ two-game winning streak at the start of the season.
The Buccaneers finished their season strong, winning five of their last six games. They clinched their third consecutive division title with a 9-0 win over the Carolina Panthers in the last game week. It was an outstanding game for Baker Mayfield, who registered 115 passing yards. Plus, McLaughlin was on fire in the second quarter. He scored three field goals in the game, the only point scored in the entire game against the Panthers.
We meet again. pic.twitter.com/7dY2rBdfa2
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 8, 2024
However, while the Eagles started strong in the early season, they have struggled in their last six games. They only won one out of six of their previous matches. Since they didn’t nab the top spot as NFC East Division champions, they are off to a rocky start for this upcoming Wildcard Weekend.
The Eagles’ last regular season game against the New York Giants resulted in a 27-10 loss. The New York Giants player, Tyrod Tayler, managed 297 passing yards, over double Philadelphias’ 148 yards. In that game, the Giants also made three touchdowns. They scored two in the second quarter, making the score 24-0. The third one came in the fourth quarter by Quez Watkins.
Looking over the Eagle’s last few games, it seems they are making field goals more often than touchdowns. They are settling in for an average game as they are behind in rushing yards and first downs. It will be an exciting head-to-head on Monday, as the Buccaneer’s offense will face a struggling defense for the Eagles. This could be a crucial matchup to watch.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles Predictions
Critics have been scrutinizing the Philadelphia Eagles, claiming they are the most overrated team in the NFL this season. Despite their average of over 25 points per game, the defense has allowed 25.18 points per game this year. The Eagles only scored five more points than they allowed this year, which is typical for an average football team. However, with an 11-6 record, the Eagles could end up with a season to remember.
Our prediction at Novibet is that the Philadelphia Eagles are likely to fumble. If it weren’t for their quarterback, Jalen Hurts, who threw 15 interceptions this season, the team wouldn’t be up for any discussion. Hurts is a significant threat running the football, which is why he is getting praised. But this season, he averaged under four yards per carry. The ‘tush-push’ technique that the Eagles used in the 2022 season unfortunately didn’t improve their running average. Overall, with the Eagles giving up over 200 yards every game. It just shows their lack of performance at a high level this season.
Yet, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been consistently performing well. They will rely on Baker Mayfield to lead their offense in the upcoming game on Monday. Mayfield has thrown more touchdowns this season than Jalen Hurts. The bookies rate Tampa as the underdog for this Wildcard Weekend game. Although the Bucs didn’t score any touchdowns in their last game against the Panthers, they finished the season with a shutout. The Bucs also averaged 95 yards on the ground per game, which is an incredible accomplishment.
Our prediction is for the Buccaneers to win, and you should ignore who the bookmakers have as the favorite. The Philadelphia Eagles are on shaky ground coming into this weekend. They have plenty of issues in their locker room that need to be addressed.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Philadelphia Eagles Betting Picks
Here at Novibet, we aim to give you the most up-to-date and accurate betting picks for the upcoming Wildcard Weekend football games. Although sports betting can be tricky, we are here to help. Thorough research on sportsbooks across the globe shows a 58%-win probability for the Philadelphia Eagles and only a 42% chance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Eagles have a money line of around -155, whereas the Bucs have a money line of +130. The current spread is -3 for the Eagles and +3 for the Bucs. This means if you bet $15 on this matchup, your returns for the Eagles would be around $24.67. However, betting on the underdog would return $34.50.
Anything can happen when betting on a major sports event like this game. The probabilities are a close matchup, but if you prefer not to bet on the game. You could bet as the game progresses, in each quarter or half. For example, live betting on either team to lead in the first quarter. The sportsbook has set the moneyline for the Eagles at -135 and +114 for the Bucs. This means if you wagered $10, the return for the Eagles winning would get you $17.40 or for the Bucs $21.40. There are many types of wagers you can make. Whether that is live betting if Jalen Hurts will score a touchdown or who will win the first two quarters.
When you sign up for Novibet, you’ll receive a welcome bonus offer to kick-start your betting journey. As a new user, you can utilize this welcome bonus that gives you a boost as you explore the sportsbook. With this offer, you can place a risk-free bet on any Wildcard Weekend game of your choice. This means that even if your wager doesn’t work out, you won’t lose your initial investment. So, try your luck and indulge in some exciting sports betting action with no hesitation.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Team News & Lineups
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a vital game scheduled for this coming Monday. Although they ended their regular season on a high note, they unfortunately have a few injured players. The players who are questionable for the upcoming game are Josh Hayes, along with Rakim Jarrett, and K.J. Britt. Hayes suffered a knee injury during the Panther game on January 7th, 2024.
- Predicted Offensive Lineup: Baker Mayfield (QB), Rachaad White (RB), Ko Kieft (TE), Cade Otton (TE), Luke Goedeke (RT), Nick Leverett (RG), Robert Hainsey (C), Aaron Stinnie (LG), Justin Skule (LT), Chris Godwin (WR), Trey Palmer (WR).
- Predicted Defensive Lineup: Jamel Dean (CB), Carlton Davis III (CB), Shaquil Barrett (OLB), Lavonte David (ILB), Devin White (ILB), Yaya Diaby (OLB), Logan Hall (DL), Vita Vea (NT), Calijah Kancey (DL), Ryan Neal (S), Antoine Winfield Jr. (S).
Philadelphia Eagles Team News & Lineups
The Eagles had a tough ending to their season, which resulted in several injuries to key players. Sydney Brown is currently out because of a ruptured ACL injury sustained in the game against the Giants on January 8th, 2024. There are also some questionable injuries for Reed Blankenship, Cam Jurgens, AJ Brown, Jalen Hurts, D’Andre Swift, Darius Slay, and DeVonta Smith.
- Predicted Offensive Lineup: Marcus Mariota (QB), Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Dallas Goedert (TE), Lane Johnson (RT), Tyler Steen (RG), Jason Kelce (C), Landon Dickerson (LG), Jordan Mailata (LT), Olamide Zaccheaus (WR), Quez Watkins (WR), Julio Jones (WR).
- Predicted Defensive Lineup: Kelee Ringo (CB), James Bradberry (CB), Brandon Graham (DE), Fletcher Cox (DT), Jordon Davis (DT), Josh Sweat (DE), Haason Reddick (SAM), Nicholas Morrow (MIKE), Zach Cunningham (WILL), Avonte Maddox (NCB), Kevin Byard (S).
