NFL Playoffs Wild Card Matchup Analysis: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The NFL playoffs always feature some of the best games of the season, and this year should be no different. The last contest of Super Wild Card Weekend will be between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night. 

Despite many people calling this matchup the "least interesting" of all six games this week, there are still plenty of storylines that will make this contest great. The Eagles have lost five of their last six games and are certainly trending in the wrong direction, while the Buccaneers have won five of the past six contests. 

With both teams trending in different directions, who has the edge? Can the Eagles squeak out a win? Let's dive in and see which team has the advantage on Monday. 

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Vegas Lines

Philadelphia Eagles (-3.0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, O/U 43.5

Eagles Offense vs. Buccaneers Defense

The Eagles' offense has no doubt struggled this season, and there's a chance they could be without All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown. Brown injured his knee in last week's loss and has not practiced at all through Friday. But even with him in the lineup, this Philadelphia offense has not been as consistent. 

Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a career-high 15 interceptions and lost a career-high five fumbles this season. On top of that, Hurts will enter the postseason with a turnover in five straight games and seven of the past eight contests. The rush offense, though, remains strong for the Eagles. They have rushed for 135.6 yards per game since Week 14. 

However, stopping the run is what Tampa Bay does best. They have given up the fifth fewest rush yards per game this season (95.3). The Buccaneers' front seven has also allowed just 3.94 yards per carry, including under four yards per carry in six straight games. But their pass defense is suspect, and that's where the Eagles will need to attack on Monday.

Buccaneers Offense vs. Eagles Defense

The Eagles' defense is all out of sorts right now and can really be beaten both through the air and on the ground. However, their secondary is in a worse spot entering the Wild Card round. Philadelphia has allowed over 300 pass yards in five of the past 10 weeks, including 311 passing yards to the New York Giants quarterbacks last week. Opposing quarterbacks have also thrown for multiple touchdowns in 10 contests against this secondary in 2023. 

That surely boosts Mayfield and the offense in every way possible. The Buccaneers' offense is coming off a disappointing performance, where they failed to score a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the season finale. But that Carolina secondary is much better than this Eagles one. 

Mayfield struggled against the Eagles' defense back in Week 3, throwing for just 146 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. But things have changed for both sides since then. The Buccaneers' signal-caller has played well as of late too, which included throwing for at least 280 yards and two touchdowns in all three games from Week 15 to Week 17. 

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