Ray Lewis Eviscerated Eagles for Embarrassing Missed Tackles in Playoff Loss to Bucs
Ray Lewis would likely agree with Tom Brady’s comments about “mediocrity” in today’s NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens Hall of Fame linebacker joined ESPN’s ManningCast on Monday and was visibly disgusted by the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense during one touchdown play in the third quarter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield had thrown a pass to Trey Palmer near midfield, who then ran the rest of the way for a 56-yard touchdown. On Palmer’s run, at least two Philly defenders missed critical tackles, causing Lewis to throw his hands up in frustration.
“Guys, listen, let me say this. ... Practicing tackling every day is based on angles,” Lewis told Eli and Peyton Manning on the show. “When you see the angles of these guys and the way they approach tackling, it’s crazy. Like nobody plays together. Put them in a cup. If you put them guys in a cup, you’re not going to see big plays like this. But everybody’s playing individual ball, and that’s insane to me.”
Palmer's touchdown was just one of many chunk plays given up by Philly's mistake-prone secondary all night.
Earlier in the game, Bucs' David Moore scored a 44-yard catch-and-run touchdown in which he evaded four Eagles defenders en route to the end zone. Tampa Bay would hammer the nail in the coffin with a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and bounce the Eagles from the playoffs, 32—9.
Lewis continued his rant on ManningCast, “That’s why sometimes I get outside and I go sit on my water because I can’t deal with this type of stuff, Peyton, like what? Like it’s crazy.”
Eagles fans would snap their fingers in agreement with Lewis’ tirade. Under defensive coordinators Sean Desai and Matt Patricia, the Eagles’ pass defense finished with 252.7 passing yards allowed per game, good for 31st in the league.
Lewis may be better off watching his Ravens, who boast a triple crown record-setting defense, take on the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional round at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
