Philadelphia went 1-5 down the stretch, but Nick Sirianni’s team advanced to the postseason for the third year in a row, and they’ll look to flip the switch in the NFC playoffs.
They face a familiar foe on the road when they travel to Tampa to face the 9-8 Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium without an injured A.J. Brown.
The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.
With kickoff a little over eight hours away, here are six burning questions that must be answered.
Can Jalen Carter get re-energized
Carter tied Derrick Burgess in 2001 for the second-most sacks (6.0) by an Eagles rookie, trailing only Corey Simon in 2000 (9.5).
His play has fallen off some down the stretch, but the defensive tackle from Georgia is one of the key pieces on an embattled unit.
Can Eagles pressure Baker Mayfield
In the four games Matt Patricia has called the defense, the Eagles had just six sacks, while watching their pressure rate decrease.
Even more concerning, Haason Reddick has gone without a sack and has appeared to split his time in coverage.
Bucaaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield only completed 49% of his passes with six touchdowns to two interceptions for a 76.0 passer rating when pressured this season, and it’ll be imperative for the Philadelphia defensive front to generate pressure organically, without sacrificing a defender in the passing game.
Will Eagles rely on D'Andre Swift?
Swift logged 16 carries for 130 yards (season-high 8.1 yards per carry) in the Week 3 win over Tampa, and he hasn’t been over the 100 yard mark since.
With A.J. Brown ruled out, the Eagles could be best served leaning on a stout offensive line, and Swift’s ability to milk the clock.
Can Jalen Hurts beat the Blitz?
According to CBS Sports, Hurts completed 60.5% of passes when facing the blitz this season, registering six touchdowns to eight interceptions for a 74.1 rating (28th in NFL).
Tampa Bay blitz’s the third most of any team in the NFL(42.0%), and Hurts struggled to recongnize hot routes or make winning throws while facing pressure down the stretch.
How Hurts handles the pressure will greatly determine Philadelphia’s offensive success.
Can Julio Jones turn back the clock
In his career, Jones has 114 receptions, 1,841 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns against Tampa Bay — most against any opponent he faced.
Monday night will mark Jones’ first postseason matchup against the Buccaneers, and with A.J. Brown ruled out, Jones turning back the clock could give the Eagles an advantage.
Can Darius Slay fix Eagles issues in secondary?
Slay will return to the lineup after missing four games, and will his presence bring some stability to a secondary that flamed out down the stretch?
