TAMPA – The Eagles were looking to unseat the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
And there were several things working in the Eagles’ factor before the game.
That included the weather as the game is being played with wind gusts over 20 mph, which could affect the Bucs’ passing attack, led by certain Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
But Brady won’t have four of his top six playmakers. Chris Godwin, the Delaware native, tore his ACL four weeks ago, and Antonio Brown walked off the field during a Jan. 2 game against the Jets and was released the next day.
In addition, the Bucs won’t have their top two running backs in Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones. Fournette was not activated off injured reserve, while Jones has an ankle injury.
A strong running game, of course, is paramount.
To that end, all four of the Eagles running backs, led by Miles Sanders, are eligible to play. The Eagles led the NFL in rushing, averaging 159.7 yards per game. Over the final 10 games, they averaged 189 yards per game.
Eagles fall behind early
The scenario couldn’t have been worse for the Eagles in their hopes to upset the Buccaneers.
They gave up a long Tampa Bay scoring drive on the opening possession, then went 3-and-out on their first possession.
Jalen Hurts had 7 yards passing, and the Eagles had 10 yards rushing at the end of the first quarter.
There was also a poor punt by Arryn Siposs, his third under 30 yards in two games. And another methodical Tampa Bay scoring drive that put the Eagles behind 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bucs had 137 yards of total offense, the Eagles’ 17.
Eagles’ sack leader out with illness
The Eagles announced Sunday before the game that defensive end Josh Sweat, tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks, isn’t playing after having “a life-threatening situation” on Tuesday.
He was admitted to the hospital that night for what the team called “an emergency procedure.”
On Friday, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Sweat had some “abdominal pain” earlier in the week, but was feeling better, and was listed as questionable for the game.
“In the following days, Josh and our medical team did everything possible to help him return to play,” an Eagles spokesman said. “It was determined by the doctors today that he was not quite ready.”
Sweat had 4 sacks in the previous three games in which he played. He was named as a Pro Bowl alternate last month.
Sweat was tied with defensive tackle Javon Hargrave for the team lead in sacks. No one else had more than 3.5. Among the defensive ends, Derek Barnett has the next most sacks, with only 2.
Eagles going with 6th starter at RG
In addition, starting right guard Nate Herbig was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Sua Opeta is expected to start in his place. Opeta would be the sixth different player to start at right guard this season, behind Brandon Brooks, Landon Dickerson, Herbig, Jack Driscoll and Jack Anderson for the meaningless season finale against Dallas.
The other inactives are QB Reid Sinnett, DB Andre Chachere, RB Jason Huntley, DB Kary Vincent and DB Tay Gowan.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
