Pewter Predictions For NFC Wild Card Round

BUCS vs. EAGLES

WHEN: Monday, January 15, 2024 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) | KICKOFF: 8:00 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN/ABC

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Joe Buck | ANALYST: Troy Aikman | SIDELINE: Laura Rutledge & Lisa SaltersRADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Recreation day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report employees to make its weekly recreation predictions and supply up our recreation preview of this week’s matchup. Tell us what you assume within the article feedback part and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: Chase McLaughlin Wins It For Tampa Bay

Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin has proven us all season what perfection appears like. He has made each single discipline objective try that has crossed the road of scrimmage. His solely two “misses” have been truly blocked discipline objective makes an attempt.

I’ve seen quite a lot of unhealthy kickers in my 28 years of overlaying Tampa Bay soccer. I’ve additionally seen some rattling good ones in Martin Gramatica and Ryan Succop – each of whom helped the franchise win Tremendous Bowls. McLaughlin will nail a game-winner within the fourth quarter and the Bucs will beat the Eagles and advance within the playoffs.

This recreation options two groups heading in reverse instructions. The Bucs have momentum, successful an NFC South championship final week, and 5 of their final six video games. That 23-13 loss to New Orleans the final time Tampa Bay took the sector at Raymond James Stadium ought to function a superb reminder that the Bucs must win the battle within the trenches to return away victorious.

The Eagles have misplaced 5 of their final six and are limping into the playoffs with none momentum. That is some dissent occurring in Philly proper now and the Eagles should not taking part in as a workforce. A number of of the workforce’s stars and starters are coping with accidents, together with quarterback Jalen Hurts and large receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They’ll play, however how efficient will they be?

In the meantime, Baker Mayfield is on the mend from his ribs and ankle damage and was throwing higher on Friday than he has in two weeks when it comes to velocity and accuracy. Mayfield and the Bucs protection will do sufficient for Tampa Bay to get in place to let “Cash” McLaughlin, who scored all 9 of the workforce’s factors in final week’s victory in Carolina, win it in the long run.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 23, Eagles 20REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 10-7

Matt Matera: In A Slugfest Recreation, The Bucs Lose A Shut One

This recreation goes to be nearer than the 25-11 recreation between the Bucs and Eagles that they’d in Week 3. What’s going to be comparable, although, is that it’ll be comparatively low-scoring. Considered one of these offenses isn’t displaying up, it’s only a matter of which one. The Bucs are trending in the appropriate course having gained 5 of six, whereas the Eagles have misplaced 5 of six. However I don’t assume that issues as a lot when the playoffs begin.

On one facet, the Bucs that failed to attain a landing of their final recreation and have scored two touchdowns of their final eight quarters, each coming within the fourth quarter in Week 18. Baker Mayfield has two accidents, the Bucs’ go blocking has regressed and there hasn’t been a circulation to the workforce’s recreation plan. 

On the opposite facet, the Eagles have tons of accidents to their offense with Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, who was simply introduced as out for the sport. Plus Brown has deleted all of his Eagles associated content material off of his social media. Though the Eagles have misplaced rather a lot currently, they’ve nonetheless put up factors. 

I’d like to see the Bucs get again to involving Rachaad White within the passing recreation. Saquon Barkley simply torched the Eagles final week that method and the Bucs ought to do comparable with White. The Eagles, alternatively, will try and run it efficiently like they did in Week 3. 

There’s many questions for each workforce’s defenses as nicely. Tampa Bay has to dominate with their blitzes to create sacks and turnovers or they’ll be toast. Search for many defensive again blitzes from first time All-Professional Antoine Winfield Jr. because the Eagles battle with that stress. Philadelphia has a terrific inside entrance however many points on the again finish. 

This recreation could come all the way down to the final possession as a result of I don’t assume both group will totally be capable to make the most of the opposite’s inefficiencies. As many issues as they’ve had, the Eagles nonetheless have higher gamers to get them the win late within the night.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 22, Bucs 20MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 10-7

Bailey Adams: Bucs’ Inconceivable Run Lasts One other Week

I’ve been discovering this recreation exceptionally troublesome to name. The Eagles are the higher, extra proficient workforce. However they’re additionally extra banged up and so they’ve misplaced 5 of their final six video games. They’re trending within the mistaken course.

The Bucs, alternatively, gained 5 of their final six video games and are trending up. The Week 17 loss to the Saints and Week 18 win over the Panthers have been massive steps again from the workforce’s four-game successful streak, although, so Baker Mayfield and Co. might want to rediscover a few of that December magic because the playoffs start.

The Eagles will attempt to management the trenches and in the event that they succeed with that the way in which they did again in Week 3, they’re going to advance to the NFC Divisional Spherical regardless of current developments. But when the Bucs can handle and maintain their very own on either side of the road of scrimmage, they’ll give themselves a shot.

Tampa Bay ought to be capable to make the most of Philly’s badly struggling protection, which completed the season ranked thirtieth in factors allowed per recreation. If they will get Rachaad White going within the run recreation and quick passing recreation, it’ll assist open issues up for Mayfield and the passing recreation to push the ball down the sector towards the Eagles’ Thirty first-ranked go protection.

Todd Bowles has achieved a superb job towards Jalen Hurts up to now and I believe the Buccaneer protection will maintain up nicely once more this time round so long as the group matches the run nicely sufficient to keep away from a monster day from the Philly backfield.

It virtually appears like I’m falling right into a lure right here by believing within the Bucs towards a workforce that’s purported to be extra proficient and simply made a run to the Tremendous Bowl final yr. However I’m gonna do it anyway.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 24, Eagles 20ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 9-8

Josh Queipo: Bucs Fall To Acquainted Foe

The vibes between these two are utterly within the Bucs favor. Philadelphia is 1-5 over its previous six video games. Tampa Bay is 5-1. The Eagles suffered a number of accidents on the finish of the common season. The Bucs have one very massive damage difficulty (Baker Mayfield), however are in any other case getting more healthy. Philly’s protection is permitting virtually 29 factors per recreation over their final 5 contests, whereas the Bucs protection has hit fairly the groove, permitting simply 16 factors per recreation over the identical timeframe.

However I nonetheless can’t recover from the ditch matchups. The Eagles line of defense, notably within the center is overwhelmingly higher than the Bucs inside offensive line. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Fletcher Cox, and Milton Williams symbolize a bunch that’s far superior in expertise to Aaron Stinnie, Robert Hainsey and Cody Mauch. The mismatch is more likely to trigger Mayfield to need to run, scramble and transfer greater than typical.

A completely wholesome Mayfield has confirmed he’s higher at that than beforehand thought. However this isn’t a completely wholesome Mayfield. Between bruised ribs and a bum ankle, his mobility is more likely to be a hindrance relatively than a power. That every one provides as much as a recipe of a low-scoring output from the Bucs offense.

On the opposite facet of the ball, the Bucs have had difficulties getting after the passer on a constant foundation this yr. There have been brilliant spots in small pattern sizes. Shaq Barrett early within the season, and YaYa Diaby of late to call a pair. However the Bucs have lived by the blitz and died by the blitz all through a lot of the season.

Of their first assembly, the Bucs blitzed Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts on 75% of his drop backs (27 occasions). That’s an absurd quantity. And so they have been solely capable of generate stress on 10 of these 27 blitzes.

A part of the explanation the Bucs weren’t capable of get many pressures is as a result of the Eagles’ offensive line remains to be superior. Led by bookend tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, plus future Corridor of Famer Jason Kelce, it’s simply plain laborious to beat the Eagles up entrance. This might result in success for Hurts and the Eagles passing assault and a longtime run recreation.

You hear it on a regular basis in soccer. You win within the trenches. And the Eagles match up extraordinarily nicely there, which most definitely will result in a house playoff loss for the Bucs for the second straight season.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 24, Bucs 13QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 11-6

Adam Slivon: Bucs Survive Primetime To Advance In Playoffs

Playoff soccer is right here. After a 9-8 season stuffed with ups and downs, the Bucs gained the NFC South and line as much as face the Eagles. Whereas these two groups performed one another method again in Week 3, they don’t seem to be the identical groups from again then. As an alternative, they trended in reverse instructions to shut out the common season.

For the Bucs, they’ve gained 5 out of their final six video games and have been persevering with to develop and develop by the ups and downs. When taking a look at how they match up with the Eagles, it’s clear that Philadelphia has extra expertise, particularly within the trenches. Nonetheless, they’ve regressed because the season has gone on, dropping 5 out of their final six video games. With that in thoughts, something can occur on this playoff matchup.

With each Baker Mayfield (ankle/ribs) and Jalen Hurts (proper finger) going by some accidents and contemplating it may very well be wet on Monday evening, this recreation might come all the way down to how a lot success Rachaad White and D’Andre Swift have on the bottom.

Tampa Bay’s run recreation has struggled on-and-off this season, and White had simply 38 speeding yards on 14 carries dealing with Philadelphia the primary time. To have extra success this time round, it could serve the offense nicely designing runs to get him outdoors the tackles and away from the likes of Jalen Carter, Fletcher Cox, and Jordan Davis. With the ability to have a run recreation might be important in controlling the tempo and having lengthy scoring drives. 

By comparability, that’s precisely what Swift did the primary time round. He had 16 carries for 130 speeding yards, averaging over eight yards a carry. His efficiency was an enormous issue, however the Bucs’ run protection has some reinforcements in Calijah Kancey, YaYa Diaby, and a more healthy Devin White. Kancey didn’t play in Week 3, whereas Diaby had not but emerged as a starter. For White, he’s more healthy than he was then after taking part in by a hamstring damage. Plus, he might step his recreation up within the playoffs for what may very well be his closing journey with the workforce.

how I see this recreation going, I don’t see both the Bucs or Eagles popping out flat-out dominating primarily based on their current play night the stakes. I anticipate a back-and-forth recreation with quite a lot of runs and quick passes. Bucs gamers have spoken this week about popping out and being extra bodily, as they have been overmatched in that regard the primary time round. This time, I predict Tampa Bay will struggle its method by a hard-fought recreation to knock Philadelphia out of the playoffs.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 20, Eagles 17SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 12-5