NFL Week 4 live updates: Inactives, schedule, kickoff times, matchups, odds and predictions
By Larry Holder, Brooks Kubena and Mark Puleo
Fourteen completions and three total touchdowns is a solid day for a quarterback. Baker Mayfield had those numbers by the first minute of the second quarter.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback dominated the Philadelphia Eagles on a sweltering day at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, leading the Bucs to a 33-16 win behind a 24-7 first-half lead.
Sunday marked the second time this calendar year that Mayfield had a field day against the visiting Eagles, as he tallied 337 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in the NFC Wild Card round of the playoffs in January. On Sunday, Mayfield was even better, completing 30 passes for 347 yards and three scores (two through the air plus another on the ground). Running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White both tallied 49 yards on 10 carries apiece, while Irving added a third-quarter score.
GO DEEPER
Eagles return blocked extra point for 2 points in rare play
Mike Evans caught a team-high 94 of those yards and hauled in the game’s first touchdown, giving him the most points scored in Bucs franchise history.
ALL T1⃣M3⃣ @MikeEvans13_ now holds the record for the most points scored in franchise history. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0WAWEgesgs
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) September 29, 2024
Tampa Bay looking legitimate on both sides of the ball
Maybe it was only a fluke for the Buccaneers offense to only muster 223 net yards in last week’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Mayfield looked far more like the Mayfield from the first two weeks of the season. Once again, he should be considered one of the more effective QBs in the league through four weeks. Plus, I’ve been waiting for more action from Irving. It happened with Irving punching in a rushing touchdown. Heading into Week 4, Irving ranked seventh in the league with a 0.11 EPA (expected points added, via TruMedia) per carry rate and third with a 6.2-yard per carry mark.
Meanwhile, the Bucs defense also came up with the goods right when the Eagles attempted to muster some momentum. After the Eagles returned a blocked extra-point kick for two points, stalwart Bucs linebacker Lavonte David picked up a sack fumble on Jalen Hurts inside the red zone to shift the wave back to Tampa Bay. The Bucs picked up six sacks on Hurts.
And at 3-1, it’s not as much of a shock this year to find the Bucs very much in the hunt in the NFC South. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
Time to talk about Jalen Hurts
It’s time for the Eagles to be concerned about Jalen Hurts and his failure to take care of the ball. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore first called his interceptions anomalies. Coach Nick Sirianni took the blame for Hurts’ fourth interception against the Saints last week, saying he didn’t prepare Hurts enough for the defensive looks he’d see on the play. Hurts lost his third fumble of the season in a critical moment against the Buccaneers.
They trailed 24-14 in the third quarter. They’d reached the red zone. On first-and-10, Hurts sidestepped a sack attempt, then held onto the football too long. David stripped the ball loose. The Bucs recovered at their 24. They kicked a field goal on the following possession. The Eagles offense never scored again.
It wasn’t surprising to see Philadelphia struggle offensively without leading receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring) and DeVonta Smith (concussion). But the Eagles need to have confidence that Hurts can take care of the football in crucial scenarios later in the season — whether Brown or Smith are in the game or not. Hurts hasn’t yet proven he can be reliable in 2024. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer
Eagles are their own worst enemy
The Eagles eliminated themselves from contending on Sunday by making inexcusable mistakes that eventually awarded the Buccaneers 13 points. They’d only trailed 7-0 when they’d forced a punt in the first quarter. But Isaiah Rodgers shoved a blocker into Cooper DeJean, who muffed the punt, and the Bucs recovered at the Eagles 22.
Mayfield later scored on a 1-yard run to go up 14-0. A third-down pass interference by safety Reed Blankenship later led to a field goal. A defensive hold on third down by Avonte Maddox after a sack also led to a field goal. The Eagles have too often shown a lack of discipline in key moments. That ultimately falls on Sirianni. — Kubena
Philadelphia’s worrisome perimeter defense
The Eagles continued to struggle defending their perimeter. Mayfield often stretched the field with swing passes and quick outs toward the sideline.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had found an answer for defending outside runs against the Saints by placing linebacker Zack Baun along the edge. But the Bucs stretched the Eagles even further by passing beyond the box. This placed pressure on nickel Avonte Maddox and linebacker Nakobe Dean in coverage. The Eagles recovered defensively by gaining pressure in the backfield. But teams will continue attacking the edge until the Eagles show they can stop it.
That may not occur until DeJean fully develops and is prepared to start at nickel in place of Maddox. — Kubena
Required reading
(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
