BucsGameday Staff Score Predictions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are quickly developing into one of the surprises across the league after starting off 2-0. After knocking off the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, the Buccaneers will have their hands full as the Super Bowl Runner-Up Philadelphia Eagles travel to Raymond James Stadium.
READ MORE: How to Watch Eagles vs. Buccaneers: Kickoff Time, TV Channel and Odds
The Eagles have also gotten off to an undefeated start but struggled at times against the New England Patriots and the Minnesota Vikings. Philadelphia led 27-7 last week before holding on to a 34-28 victory over the Vikings.
There is plenty of talent on both sides as quarterback Baker Mayfield and quarterback Jalen Hurts prepare to face off. Tampa Bay has a chance to make another statement to the league with the amount of attention that will be on the franchise on Monday night.
Our staff provides their predictions and analysis as the Buccaneers and Eagles prepare to face off.
Dustin Lewis (@DustinLewisNG)
The Buccaneers have been a pleasant surprise early in 2023 after I admittedly didn't have the highest expectations for them this year. The season is still relatively new but this is a competitive group that provides plenty of fire on both sides of the ball. The team truly looks hungry, something that was lacking at times in the regular season last year.
The defense is playing at an elite level while the offense is starting to figure things out after Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans heated up against Chicago. Tampa Bay will have a tougher test on Monday night when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town.
The Super Bowl Runner-Ups have had their fair share of struggles to begin the season. The Eagles had a closer-than-expected victory against New England prior to holding on against Minnesota after building up a massive lead.
I think the Buccaneers will stick around in this game. However, I've got Jalen Hurts doing just enough to guide Philadelphia to a victory. That shouldn't necessarily be disappointing after what we thought about this team prior to the beginning of the year.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Eagles 27, Buccaneers 24
Logan Robinson (@LogansTwitty)
This Bucs team has been super surprising, to say the least, to begin the season and it all has to do with this team’s attitude going into the season. A whole 180 from last year when it felt like this team was dead on the sidelines and didn’t have a voice when Tom Brady was dealing with personal family matters.
I’m going to get wild here and say the Bucs pull off a major upset against the Eagles because of Tampa’s defense. They’re going to come to play.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Buccaneers 27, Eagles 24
David Harrison (@DHarrison82)
I'm kind of picking the Bucs here because if I'm right they'll cover the +4.5 point spread they're facing and only lose by three. That being said, I like what Tampa Bay has built, and believe that if this matchup were five weeks from now it might be a different story.
As it is, I just see too many weapons on both sides of the ball with Philadelphia and think they come away with a win on Monday night. Here's to 1-2!
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Eagles 24, Buccaneers 21
Collin Haalboom (@SI_Buccaneers)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have their hands full on Monday when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town. The thing that scares me most about the Eagles is how dominant they are in the trenches. The Eagles have a legitimate claim to owning the best offensive AND defensive lines in the NFL.
Philly does have one obvious vulnerability though, and that's in their secondary. Having already lost both their first and second-string nickel cornerbacks to injury, they'll be forced to continue shuffling personnel around on the back end of their defense.
I think if the Buccaneers aggressively attack the Eagles through the air, they'll have a chance to pull off an upset. Tampa Bay will also need to continue playing stout run defense, with a special emphasis on keeping Jalen Hurts inside the pocket.
I expect this game to be close, but I think the Eagles will prevail in the end.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Eagles 24, Buccaneers 21
Caleb Skinner (@chsnole)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are off to an unbelievable start in 2023 but will get their biggest test yet in a prime-time matchup on MNF against the 2022 runner-ups, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Bucs have been the model of consistency since the second half of their week one matchup and have been successful at all three phases of the game. They are going to need that once again this week as this Eagles team also boasts one of the best rosters, top to bottom, in the league.
On a night that will be used to celebrate Tampa Bay legend Ronde Barber’s induction into the Hall of Fame, the Bucs will carry that same chip on their shoulder into week three and continue their masterful run to open the season. Buccaneers win a tight one on the last drive of the game and it comes down to a FG make by Chase McLaughlin.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Buccaneers 24, Eagles 21
JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers face their toughest challenge yet when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town for Monday Night Football. The defending NFC Champions haven't played their best football this season. What appeared to be a potential bad loss for the Bucs on paper at the beginning of the season, looks like a game they might have a shot at winning.
However, even though Philadelphia hasn't been playing well early in the season, the Buccaneers will need to play their best football to have a shot at winning. Controlling the trenches will be a huge deciding factor in the Monday night matchup. Tampa Bay needs to replicate the strong performance they have displayed so far against the run to make Jalen Hurts and the Eagles one-dimensional. While also maintaining a clean pocket for Baker Mayfield to work out of against a potent front seven.
If the Bucs can do those two things and win the turnover margin they have a real shot at moving to 3-0 and dethroning the Eagles. However, those are a lot of ifs. While I think this is a competitive game, and perhaps makes the national media rethink the way they view this Buccaneers team, Philadelphia takes it in a close one.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 2-0
Eagles 20, Buccaneers 17
Kade Kimble (@kadekimble)
After everything we've seen from this Buccaneers team, they could easily backdoor cover the spread. The Todd Bowles-led defense has been solid and Baker Mayfield's start to the season should make this one interesting. At the end of the day, the Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl win and need to kick things into gear.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Eagles 21, Buccaneers 17
Ben Meyerson (@ByBenMeyerson)
This will be a tough matchup between two undefeated teams and will be a slugfest. The Eagles are one of the most complete teams in the league, especially on offense. So it will be key to slow them down and get the ball back to the Buccaneers offense.
That being said the Eagles have struggled to put away two mediocre opponents so I expect this to be a close game. I think the Bucs have a real shot to win, but will need to be nearly perfect and it is hard to expect that. I'll take the Eagles in a close game, that will leave the national media and outsiders impressed with the Buccaneers.
2023 Season Prediction Record: 1-1
Eagles 28, Buccaneers 25
CONSENSUS: Eagles (6-2)
READ MORE: Multiple Buccaneers Defensive Starters Are On Track To Play Against Eagles
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