In a commanding performance on Monday night at Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers solidified their spot in the next round by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 in the wild-card round. This win ensures that a new representative from the NFC will emerge for the Super Bowl.
Baker Mayfield, in his first playoff appearance with the Buccaneers, joined the elite ranks of Tom Brady as one of the few quarterbacks in the team’s history to achieve 300-plus passing yards in a playoff game. Mayfield, playing through rib and ankle injuries, showcased his prowess by throwing three touchdowns of 56, 44, and 23 yards.
The game marked a rematch from Week 3, where the Eagles handed the Bucs their first defeat of the season. However, with home-field advantage secured after winning the NFC South and claiming the No. 4 seed, the Buccaneers displayed dominance on both offensive and defensive fronts.
Mayfield’s resilience was evident as he completed 22 of 36 passes for 337 yards with no interceptions. The defense, led by coach Todd Bowles, delivered a stellar performance, sacking Jalen Hurts three times, accumulating six quarterback hits, and limiting the Eagles to 41 rushing yards, a stark contrast to the 201 yards conceded in their previous encounter.
A key highlight was the Buccaneers’ ability to shut down the Eagles on third and fourth downs, going 0-for-9 and 0-for-2, respectively. Despite a 55-yard pass to DeVonta Smith leading to a 5-yard touchdown pass by Hurts, linebacker K.J. Britt’s crucial play prevented a successful 2-point conversion attempt.
Noteworthy was Mayfield’s connection with David Moore, as they executed a 44-yard touchdown on third-and-7 in the first quarter. Moore’s performance, with two catches for 66 yards, indicated a potential breakout for the player who had limited contributions during the regular season.
However, the Buccaneers faced a challenge with drops, experiencing six in the first half alone. Tight end Cade Otton accounted for three, while Mike Evans and running backs Chase Edmonds and Rachaad White contributed one each.
Looking ahead, the Buccaneers now set their sights on the next playoff clash against the Detroit Lions, aiming to carry forward the momentum from their convincing win over the Eagles. The team’s balanced performance and Mayfield’s playoff debut bode well for their postseason aspirations.