Need-to-know info
- Who: Philadelphia Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- When: Monday, Jan 14 at 8:15pm ET
- Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
- How to watch: ESPN/ABC
Save the best ‘til last. That’s what they say. We think it’s fair to say that’s not the case here on Monday Night Football.
Tampa Bay are your NFC South winners, but they’ve been far from convincing in a 9-8 season. The best of a not-so-great bunch, perhaps. Then there’s the Eagles. Another season of promise has quickly turned into a bit of a disaster. One of them will reach the Divisional Round. Let’s find out who.
For the Eagles, the second half of the season has been almost incomprehensible. The NFC East was sewn up with a 10-1 record. And then… What on earth happened?! Last year’s Super Bowl finalists dropped to 11-6 and still had the division in their hands – before a home loss to the Cardinals in Week 17. They’re the first team in history to reach 10-1 and not win 12 games. Philly simply shouldn’t be in this position. But they are.
The Bucs certainly go into this one feeling better about things. Baker Mayfield has protected the ball well this season, and he has two WRs who both went over 1,000 yards to sling it to. Mike Evans (1,255) and Chris Godwin (1,024) will be rubbing their hands at the thought of going up against what has become one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL.
The two teams met at Raymond James Stadium in Week 3 and it was a convincing win for Philly, stifling the home team in a 25-11 win. But much has changed since, with the Eagles dropping like a stone while the Bucs discovered their identity. If both teams are at their best, there’s only one winner here. But football doesn’t work like that.
