By Tom Krasniqi

 

The stars seem to be aligned for the Buccaneers.  They were at home.  They were honoring the 2002 championship team.  They were facing a rookie quarterback and a 3-9 Eagles team.  Should be an easy win, right?  Ahhhh, no sir.  The Eagles scored on the game’s final play to stun the Bucs 23-21 at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. The Bucs have now lost 3 straight to fall to 6-7 on the season.  Meanwhile, the Eagles snapped their 8-game losing streak. 

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the first quarter.  Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman was off point to begin the game.  Freeman misfired on several passes to open receivers as he completed just 2 of 7 passes in the opening quarter.  The Bucs defense did sack Eagles rookie quarterback Nick Foles twice in the opening quarter as Gerald McCoy and Michael Bennett were able to get to him.  Both teams combined for 66 yards in a scoreless game after one quarter.

The Eagles got on the board first in this one and it came in the second quarter.  Alex Henery booted a 27-yard field goal to give Philly a 3-0 lead.  It capped a 33-yard drive in 9 plays.  The big play on the drive was an amazing 20-yard, one-handed catch by Jason Avant along the sideline.  Philly added to that lead on a Foles 10-yard TD run on a scramble.  Foles hit a wide open Avant to set up that score to make it 10-0 Eagles.  Philly had a chance to extend the lead right before the half but Henery’s 58-yd FG hit the left upright and was no good. 

The Bucs got a huge break early in the 3rd quarter that got them back in the game.  Damaris Johnson muffed a punt inside his own 10-yard line.  Dekota Watson recovered the ball at the Eagles 5.  Three plays later, Freeman found Mike Williams on a 1-yd TD run to make it a 10-7 ballgame.  Eagles responded with a nice drive on the ensuing possession but Henery shanked a 31-yd FG to give the Bucs more momentum. 

The 4th quarter began with the Bucs taking the lead on a Freeman 13-yd TD pass to Vincent Jackson to give the Bucs a 14-10 lead.  The Bucs would add to their lead later on when Doug Martin cashed in on a 4-yd TD run to put Tampa Bay up 21-10 with 7:21 left in the game.  The Eagles made things interesting late when Foles hit Clay Harbor on an 11-yd TD pass with 3:55 left.  The two-point conversion failed and that made it 21-16 Bucs.  Foles and the Eagles engineered an amazing drive late in the game, including a big completion to Jason Avant down to the Bucs 1-yard line on a 4th and 5 play.  After Foles spike it to stop the clock, he found Jeremy Maclin on the game-winning 1-yd TD pass with no time left on the clock.  Maclin beat Leonard Johnson on the play.  Game over.  Season over.  Playoffs out the window.

 

 

News & Notes:

  • Josh Freeman was up and down today.  Freeman was 5 of 16 in the first half, but played better in the second half with two touchdown passes on the day
  • Eagles rookie QB Nick Foles showed tremendous poise and toughness.  He was sacked 6 times and hit numerous other times, but he stood tall in the pocket and made some great throws.  Foles finished with 381 yards passing and 2 TDs.
  • Doug Martin had a nice game with 128 yards rushing and a touchdown.  He also set the franchise’s rookie rushing record, surpassing Cadillac Williams.  Martin now has 1,234 yards rushing on the season.
  • Vincent Jackson had another terrific game with 6 catches for 131 yards and a score.  He’s been worth every penny of his $55-million contract.
  • The Bucs locker room was not a cheerful place to be.  Many players were dejected after the game.  “It sucks”, says DT Gerald McCoy.  McCoy and DE Michael Bennett each had two sacks.  Ronde Barber was visibly upset and says the secondary must improve: “There are plenty of reasons for it.  I don’t care to get into them”.
  • Here’s something that will depress Bucs fans: Many defensive players knew the Eagles were going to run that sprint pass play on the game’s final play.  And the Bucs couldn’t stop it.  Leonard Johnson was beaten by Jeremy Maclin on the play. 
  • The Bucs hit the road next Sunday to visit Drew Brees and the Saints in New Orleans.  Our coverage begins at 9am on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.