The Eagles (2-0) will journey to Florida to tackle the Buccaneers (2-0) in a battle of unbeaten groups on Monday Night Football.

Let’s get to the matchups:

Jalen Hurts vs. Todd Bowles

The MVP runner-up isn’t off to such a sizzling begin in 2023 however he has achieved sufficient for the Eagles to win each of their video games. And it’s a must to credit score the defenses he’s confronted for actually placing collectively stable sport plans.

Through two video games, Hurts has accomplished 71.4% of his passes for 363 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He hasn’t seemed fully snug within the pocket and has been sacked seven occasions already. He has been sacked on 11.1% of his passes, which is the seventh-highest proportion within the NFL.

What can we count on to see from Todd Bowles’ protection in Tampa? Well, as at all times, quite a lot of blitzing. Bowles has been recognized for his blitzing protection for years and the 2023 season isn’t any completely different. Through two weeks, the Buccaneers have blitzed opposing quarterbacks on 37.8% of drop-backs, which ranks sixth within the league. It’s value noting that the Vikings (49.3%) and Patriots (44.3%), the Eagles’ first two opponents, rank first and second within the league.

According to PFF, Hurts has the second-best grade amongst quarterbacks dealing with the blitz this season. But the Eagles, as an entire, have seen their ups and downs when dealing with further rushers thus far.

Hurts is 0-2 in opposition to the Bucs in his profession, with the second loss coming in his first playoff sport on the finish of the 2021 season. Hurts actually struggled in that sport and completed with a passer ranking of 60.0 in that sport. But Hurts is a a lot completely different participant than he was in that sport. He had a Pro Bowl season in between.

Eagles run sport vs. Bucs run protection

While the Eagles’ passing assault has been gradual to start out this season, they had been capable of run for 259 yards in Week 2. The Eagles have a implausible offensive line and can welcome again Kenny Gainwell (ribs) on this sport after D’Andre Swift had a 175-yard sport in opposition to the Vikings.

Since Nick Sirianni turned the Eagles’ head coach in 2021, the Eagles have had 10 video games with 200+ speeding yards, essentially the most within the NFL.

But the Bucs have been superb in opposition to the run beneath Bowles. In reality, since Bowles turned the DC in 2019, the Bucs have the NFL’s No. 1 run protection, giving up simply 91.22 yards per sport. And that’s persevering with this season. In the primary two video games of 2023, the Bucs have the NFL’s No. 2 speeding protection, permitting 54.0 yards per sport. (The high run protection within the NFL belongs to the Eagles, who’ve given up 52.0 yards per sport.)

Eagles undersized iOL vs. Vita Vea

That nice Buccaneers’ speeding protection all begins up entrance with 350-pound nostril deal with Vita Vea, who emerged as a go rusher final yr too. Vea has at all times been nice in opposition to the run however he added 6 1/2 sacks final yr and has one other 1 1/2 by way of two video games this yr. Keep an eye fixed on Vea vs. the undersized duo of Jason Kelce and Cam Jurgens on the Eagles’ inside.

Just from a dimension perspective, Vea is a problem for the Eagles’ inside offensive line. The greatest inside defensive deal with the Eagles have confronted within the first two weeks is Patriots DT Davon Godchaux, who’s listed at 330 kilos. The Vikings’ inside linemen aren’t very massive.

Not solely is Vea the most important inside lineman the Eagles have confronted this season however he’s additionally one of the best. Vea was a Pro Bowler in 2021 and it’s a disgrace he solely has one Pro Bowl nod to his identify as a result of he’s a game-changer participant.

Eagles’ takeaway protection vs. Baker Mayfield

The Bucs’ journeyman quarterback is off to a very good begin this season. He has accomplished 69.1% of his passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns and no interceptions. Mayfield has been extraordinarily cautious with the soccer however he’s additionally been actually good in opposition to strain and on third downs. In reality, Mayfield leads the NFL in Third-down completion proportion at 87% and he’s second behind Kirk Cousins in Third-down passer ranking at 132.1.

According to PFF, Mayfield has had a turnover worthy play on simply 1.3% of his snaps this season. That ranks tied for thirty first within the NFL out of 32 quarterbacks. For reference, Hurts is tenth at 4.1%.

Give Mayfield credit score. He hasn’t coughed up the soccer but this season and the Bucs are one in every of six groups within the NFL with out turning over the soccer but. On the flip facet, the Eagles have six takeaways in two video games. Just the Cowboys (7) have extra. The Eagles compelled two turnovers in Week 1 and 4 in Week 2. Something has to present right here.

Haason Reddick vs. Luke Goedeke

It’s been a little bit of a gradual begin for Reddick in 2023 however I wouldn’t fear about him. Reddick has been getting over a thumb damage and surgical procedure that has clearly affected his play, nevertheless it’s additionally value noting he received off to a gradual begin final yr. He didn’t have a sack in Weeks 1 or 2 of 2022 however then broke out in a significant approach with 4 1/2 in his subsequent three video games. He has an opportunity to do one thing comparable right here in opposition to Goedeke, who’s clearly the weaker of the Bucs’ two tackles.

The Bucs have given up only one sack thus far in 2023 — which is fairly wild — and it was Goedeke who gave it up in opposition to the Vikings (Danielle Hunter) in Week 1. Goedeke was a second-round pick of Central Michigan final yr however performed largely left guard as a rookie. He’s moved to proper deal with full-time in 2023 

While Reddick could have an opportunity to get after Mayfield on his facet, the matchup on the opposite facet is extra of a heavyweight match. Josh Sweat is off to a implausible begin to his 2023 season however must cope with two-time Pro Bowl left deal with Tristan Wirfs on this sport. Wirfs has given up simply two pressures in two video games, based on PFF.

Eagles corners vs. Mike Evans, Chris Godwin

Mayfield is off to a fantastic begin and he’s getting the ball to the highest two Bucs targets. Evans already has 12 catches for 237 yards and a couple of touchdowns, whereas Godwin has 10 catches for 109 yards.

Evans, 30, has 9 straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL profession and is effectively on his technique to a tenth. He’s been the poster youngster for offensive consistency within the NFL for a decade.

This is a enjoyable matchup as a result of Darius Slay is off to a fantastic begin in 2023 and James Bradberry needs to be again for this sport after lacking Week 2 with a concussion. The dangerous information for the Eagles is that they’re going to be with out Avonte Maddox, who is probably going out for the season with a torn pec that wants surgical procedure.

The Bucs will use Evans or Godwin within the slot. Against the Eagles, with out Maddox, that isn’t a nasty concept.

Here’s how a lot the Bucs have used them within the slot in 2023 and in 2022 and the share of their snaps within the slot, per PFF:

Evans: 15 snaps (15%)
Godwin: 39 snaps (35.1%)

And how a lot they used them within the slot in 2022:

Evans: 237 snaps (23.6%)
Godwin: 628 snaps (65.9%)

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