After the Cowboys’ upset loss to the Packers and Lions win over the Rams, the Eagles-Buccaneers winner will travel to Detroit for a divisional-round matchup next Sunday.
The two teams have met five previous times, including Tampa Bay’s NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia in 2002 to close out Veteran’s Stadium. The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.
With final preparations completed for both teams, we’re looking at one thing to watch from each of the Birds offensive position groups.
QB
After suffering an injured middle finger on his throwing hand, we’ll be watching to see if Hurts can be accurate and timely against an aggressive Bucs scheme.
RB
Swift ran for 130 yards on 16 carries in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 25-11 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
He added one reception for eight yards.
With A.J. Brown injured and ruled out, Monday offers a perfect opportunity for the Eagles to feature Swift, who hasn’t had a 100-yard game since that Week 3 matchup.
WR
With A.J. Brown out of the lineup, can Quez Watkins establish himself in the Eagles passing game, or will Olamide Zaccheaus emerge as a red zone option?
TE
Goedert logged 59 passes on 83 targets for 592 yards and three scores during the regular season, averaging 42.3 yards per game this season.
With 10 red zone targets, Goedert was been on the receiving end of 18.9% of his team’s 53 red zone pass attempts, and he’ll be the player to watch.
OL
Jurgens (eye) did not appear on the Eagles’ injury report this week.
Jurgens suffered an eye injury and left the team’s Week 18 loss to the Giants, but he now appears to be ready to go for Monday’s matchup with the Buccaneers in the wild-card round. Philadelphia need Jurgens to be stout alongside Vita Vea, and his play on Monday could determine the outcome.
