Cowboys LB Micah Parsons Not Sold on Eagles, Gives Playoff Prediction vs. Buccaneers
It would have once been unthinkable for a star player to host a podcast making NFL predictions the week that his team was also slated to play in a postseason game themselves.
But times have changed, and even as the Dallas Cowboys prepare to host the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon, All-Pro defender Micah Parsons made predictions on how the rest of the playoff field -- including Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- will play out.
USA Today
Parsons -- a Penn State product who roots for the Phillies and Sixers -- didn't diss the Eagles, but ultimately predicted that Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers will come out victorious Monday evening at Raymond James Stadium.
"I don't know too much about the Eagles right now, especially with Jalen's finger," Parsons acknowledged on his 'The Edge' podcast. "Baker Mayfield has been playing good ball. Their defense has been playing great ball. We have to go Bucs. But I think the Eagles have more talent. They could get through this adversity. They could easily beat the Bucs."
On one hand, Parsons is correct to acknowledge that the Eagles are the more talented team than the Bucs, while also being perplexed at the state of a team that lost five of their final six regular season games after starting 10-1.
On the other hand, we're going to guess that he didn't do a deep dive on the final two games of Tampa Bay's season. After going on a four-game winning streak that allowed them to seize control of the lowly NFC South, the Buccaneers limped to the finish themselves, even if it wasn't as ugly as the fashion the Eagles did. The Buccaneers laid an egg at home against the New Orleans Saints in Week 17, losing 23-13. They did ultimately win in Week 18 to clinch the division title, but did so in about the least convincing style imaginable, beating the Carolina Panthers 9-0.
The Eagles have injury concerns with the likes of Hurts and their top receiving duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. But a right ankle injury also hindered Mayfield down the stretch of the regular season. The Wild Card matchup being on Monday may help Mayfield because he'll have an extra day of treatment and rest, but he likely won't be at 100 percent until after Tampa Bay's season concludes.
But for however out of the loop Parsons may be on the current state of the Buccaneers, it's hard to argue with his conclusion on the game. The Eagles posted a -59 point differential over their last six regular season games, and concluded the slate with embarrassing losses to the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants. Why is anyone to believe coach Nick Sirianni's squad will be able to flip the switch now that the postseason is here?
