Eagles vs Buccaneers NFL Pick: Undefeated Teams Coming Off Last-Second Wins Clash in Tampa (Sep 28)

• For NFL Week 4 Eagles-Buccaneers, two 3-0 teams meet after dramatic wins in Week 3
• Philly beat the Rams on a last-second blocked field goal and TD run by Jordan Davis
• The Bucs survived a late blocked field goal and TD run by the Jets and won after a late Baker Mayfield drive to get them into field goal range
• Tampa has won the last two meetings between the teams relatively easily in the 2023-24 playoffs and early last season

Philly Stayed Unbeaten After Stunning the Rams

In what could easily be an NFC Championship Game preview, the Eagles and Rams had a seesaw battle that looked like it was about to end in the Rams’ favor. LA placekicker Joshua Karty was set to kick a 44-yard field goal to win the game when Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis blocked it and ran 61 yards for a touchdown to seal the game for Philly and cover the spread.

Although it was a thrilling win, there are still concerns. All three of their wins have been close, and if one or two plays had gone the other way in each, they could have lost. That’s part of what makes a champion: They win the close games that could go either way.

But against good teams, eventually they’re going to run out of luck.

QB Jalen Hurts has been his normal, mistake-free self. Against the Rams, he was 21 for 32 with 3 TD passes plus 1 TD rush. He has yet to be intercepted this season.

Running back Saquon Barkley is not carrying the same load he did in 2024. He has rushed for 194 yards on 58 carries and caught 10 balls for 39 yards. Clearly, they’re using him more judiciously to reduce wear and tear for the end of the season and playoffs.

On defense, Philly has been vulnerable to the run. Part of that is due to Jalen Carter’s Week 1 ejection and shoulder woes. They are currently in the bottom third in the league against the rush. They cannot beat Tampa if they don’t control the Bucs’ backfield of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White.

Baker Mayfield Is Proving His Doubters Wrong Out of Spite

Baker Mayfield has been silent about his tenure with the Browns and how many quarterbacks they have gone through trying to replace him. After the Bucs beat the Jets with a last-second field goal following a Mayfield drive, he openly said he was looking to get back at Jets’ defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Panthers head coach who demoted Mayfield.

Other players would have uttered dull, repetitive clichés, saying nothing of interest.

Not Mayfield.

He wanted to get back at Wilks and, in his mind, he did.

Tampa’s Week 3 game went similarly to Philly’s. Kicker Chase McLaughlin had a field goal blocked and returned for a TD by the Jets’ Will McDonald. He was redeemed when Mayfield drove the Bucs down the field to kick the game-winner.

Tampa’s victories have been even closer than Philly’s. They have won their three games by a total of 5 points. They also could be in very different circumstances if one or two plays had gone differently.

Irving is turning into one of the league’s most versatile and productive backs. Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka looks like a big-play guy.

They will be without star receiver Mike Evans for several weeks with a hamstring injury.

Linebacker Lavonte David had 11 combination tackles and 7 solo tackles against the Jets. They sacked New York QB Tyrod Taylor 4 times. Jamel Dean ran an interception 55 yards for a pick-6.

Eagles vs Buccaneers Pick

In our Week 4 Eagles-Buccaneers pick, barring an unlikely tie, one team will leave Raymond James Stadium with their first loss of 2025, and it will be the Bucs.

Both teams have opportunistic defenses and protect the football. Both teams can run. The Bucs’ Mayfield is more daring (some say reckless) than the controlled Hurts.

This is a very tight battle that could be a playoff preview just as Eagles-Rams was. Ultimately, the Eagles will pull it out and cover the spread.