All eyes in Philadelphia have now shifted to Tampa Bay, where the harsh weather, a formidable opponent, and the undefeated records of both teams are taking center stage in a game predicted to be intensely dramatic. This is a showdown that carries more than just the weight of a regular win; it’s a chance for the Philadelphia Eagles to break the “Achilles’ heel” that has haunted them in recent seasons. With crucial injury updates, a new plan to counter the opponent’s blitzing strategy, and high expectations for a breakout performance from Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown, this game is shaping up to be a turning point.

First, let’s talk about the injury situation. The good news for Tampa Bay is that key players like Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin, and Tristan Wirfs are all listed as “questionable but likely to play.” This means the Buccaneers will take the field with a nearly full-strength roster, posing a significant challenge for the Eagles. Conversely, the Eagles are in a similar but not quite perfect state. Although Adoree’ Jackson practiced on Friday, Philadelphia’s final injury report revealed he will be out for Sunday’s game, meaning rookie Kelee Ringo will get his first start of the season. Fortunately, with Bucs’ star Mike Evans also out, Ringo might have a slightly easier debut, though the Bucs’ receiving corps remains potent. This is a huge opportunity for Ringo to prove his worth, and fans have high hopes for the young player.

Besides the injuries at cornerback, other key players like Nakobe Dean, Lane Johnson, Dallas Goedert, Will Shipley, and Zach Ertz are ready to go. The biggest injury concern leading up to this game was Zach Ertz, who was seen with a massive leg brace. However, he practiced on Friday and assured reporters it was merely a precautionary measure, stating he’s fully ready to face the Bucs. Overall, Philadelphia is fielding a healthy squad, a positive sign compared to this time last year when they faced Tampa Bay in Week 4 without A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, or Lane Johnson. Having a full complement of key players is an undeniable advantage in this crucial matchup.

Beyond injuries, the weather is becoming a hot topic. The heat in Tampa Bay is notorious, and the Eagles have struggled with it in the past. However, the problem could be compounded this Sunday with a forecast high of 97°F (about 36°C), coupled with the possibility of scattered thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 17 knots. This will certainly make for an interesting game. Philadelphia is actively preparing for this; they simulated catching passes in the rain during Thursday and Friday’s practices. The team also dealt with rain in Week 1 and a record heatwave in Kansas City in Week 2, showing they have some experience adapting to harsh conditions. Jordan Davis even revealed that the sauna has had a few extra guests this week, indicating that players are doing everything possible to acclimate to the heat and humidity in Tampa. Hydration, proper nutrition, and heat acclimatization are top priorities for the team.

However, the biggest concern isn’t the weather or injuries, but how the Eagles’ offense can ignite, especially running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley has had a quiet start to the season, as Dallas, Kansas City, and Los Angeles have all employed new looks to slow him down. This has included heavy blitzing, with the Eagles being one of the most blitzed teams in the NFL through the first three weeks. This is fully expected against Todd Bowles and his Tampa Bay squad. Bowles is known for constantly blitzing, especially against Jalen Hurts, who has faced this tactic on 60% of his dropbacks in their last five meetings—nearly double his average against any other team.

Although Hurts has dramatically improved his ability to handle the blitz pre-snap over the past two seasons, the only way to stop teams like the Bucs from blitzing all four quarters is to beat it. So far, Philadelphia has done a decent job of that. However, Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata admitted the O-line has struggled through the first three games but mentioned they’ve implemented some new changes he wouldn’t reveal ahead of the Week 4 matchup. Historically, Hurts has struggled against Tampa Bay, averaging under 160 passing yards and throwing three interceptions with nine sacks in their last two meetings. However, the return of Lane Johnson, who was out with a concussion in last year’s loss, will be a key factor in protecting Hurts.

It’s worth noting that while the Bucs’ defense is formidable, they are coming off a game where they struggled against Jets’ backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was not only efficient through the air but also effective on the ground, rushing for 48 yards on 8 carries and making several critical runs in the second half. The Eagles have hinted at using more designed runs for Jalen Hurts, particularly quarterback read-option plays to beat the blitz. This could be a surprise weapon for Philadelphia.

Although Todd Bowles is a masterful defensive coordinator who has had the Eagles’ number for years, the Eagles believe this year will be different. They are 1-4 against Bowles in recent meetings. However, they understand this is a new season, a new game, and they can’t carry motivation or results from past games into this one.

The most crucial change the Eagles hope to make in this game is unleashing A.J. Brown. The Eagles’ offense looks night-and-day different when Hurts and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo actually feed the ball to number 11. Brown has hardly played in the heated series between Tampa and Philadelphia due to injuries. In the single game he did play, the Eagles won, and Brown had an outstanding performance. Getting the ball to A.J. Brown early and often is the key for Patullo to get this offense back on track. Fans expect Brown to see a lot of targets, no matter what the defense is doing.

Similarly, an exciting matchup to watch will be rookie Quinyon Mitchell versus Emeka Egbuka. With Mike Evans out, Mitchell can freely travel and hopefully erase Egbuka, something the Eagles’ number one cornerback has done successfully against top receivers in the first three weeks of the season. While Egbuka is a good player, he shouldn’t be a match for Mitchell if the Eagles let him travel.

While the Bucs are 3-0 and extremely dangerous, especially against the Eagles, we also need to acknowledge that they’ve had some tough games to start the season and might be a tad overrated. They needed a last-minute overtime touchdown to beat Atlanta in Week 1, only beat the lowly Texans by one point in Week 2, and relied on “Baker Magic” to win against the Jets last week. If Philadelphia can build an early lead and get to Baker Mayfield, this game might not be close come the fourth quarter.

It’s also crucial to stop Bucky Irving. Last week, the Eagles did a very poor job of stopping Kyren Williams of the Rams, who at one point was averaging nearly eight yards per rush. Irving, in many opinions, is better than Williams. Slowing him down will force Baker to throw more, hopefully leading to more interceptions, and the rest will be history. Last week, Philadelphia’s pass defense was honestly great for the most part, but the real problem was the run defense early on. Stopping the Bucs’ rushing game, forcing Baker to throw, and then pinning back their ears to get some sacks is the clear path to victory.

Show host Thomas Mott predicts an Eagles win, though he’s unsure how close it will be due to Todd Bowles’ presence. He is cautiously optimistic but expressed frustration with Kevin Patullo’s recent press conference. Mott felt Patullo failed to fully acknowledge how poorly the offense played in the first half against the Rams and that Hurts had to bail them out in the second half. There’s a sense that Patullo and Sirianni are using “word salad” instead of providing concrete information. Despite this, Mott believes that AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts have voiced their desire to play more aggressively.

In last year’s loss to the Bucs, Saquon Barkley was the lone bright spot for the Eagles, scoring a rushing touchdown. Although the Bucs have been stout against the run this year, Barkley is expected to improve on his 3.3 yards per carry average soon. Mott and his colleagues remain confident in the team, believing the Eagles are still a 100% Super Bowl contender and hoping that Patullo will learn and adjust for this weekend’s game. Sunday’s contest will be a true test for Philadelphia, not just of physical ability but of mental resilience and tactical adjustments. Can they finally break the Tampa curse, or will a hopeful chapter end in disappointment? Only time will tell.