Jameis Winston is showing why he was the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has now guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to double last season’s win total with a 4-5 record through Week 10 after a 10-6 victory over Dallas on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are well out-of-pace to reach 10-6 for the third straight year under head coach Chip Kelly. Quarterback Sam Bradford has struggled to fit in the Philadelphia offense, and now has a shoulder injury and a concussion that he suffered from a 20-19 home loss to Miami in Week 9.
It’s a must win game for these two struggling teams. Which of the two manages to get themselves out of a losing rut? Read on for everything you need to know. If you’re up for more football action, you can check out our complete previews for the Raiders vs. Lions and Redskins vs. Panthers.
[sc:Football ]Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles Preview
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
When: Sunday, November 22, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Philadelphia Eagles – view all NFL lines
TV Broadcast: FOX
Betting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Jameis Winston shrugged off a pair of interceptions, and scored a go-ahead one-yard scramble with 54 seconds left in regulation to hand the Tampa Bay Buccaneers their fourth win this season. It was Winston’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season as he has demonstrated skills in and out of the pocket.
[sc:NFL240banner ]Winston threw for 264 yards, leading the Bucs to their third win in the past five games. Wide receiver Mike Evans was the most productive of Tampa Bay’s receiving corps, catching eight passes for a game-high 126 yards. It was his third game with over 120 yards receiving in his past four contests.
Evans should be prepared for another big game against a mediocre Philadelphia pass defense, which is middling in the league with 246.8 yards allowed per game.
Part of the Bucs’ success is having a reliable rushing offense to take pressure away from Winston. Doug Martin has been a pretty reliable running back with 706 yards and three touchdowns this season. He should have some degree of success against the Eagles’ front seven, which has allowed four yards per carry and 111.3 yards rushing per game this season.
The Bucs have a couple of solid pass rushers on the other side of the ball as well. Defensive linemen Jacquies Smith and Gerald McCoy lead the team with five and 4.5 sacks respectively. The two should be able to pressure either Eagles quarterback, be it Mark Sanchez or Sam Bradford, into some crucial mistakes.
Sanchez hasn’t been a solid passer himself, with almost as many touchdowns (82) as he has interceptions (80) in his career. Meanwhile, Bradford, who injured his shoulder and left with a possible concussion Sunday, has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season.
The Bucs are 4-1 ATS in their last five games.
Betting on the Philadelphia Eagles (4-5)
The Philadelphia Eagles were good for just one quarter Sunday afternoon against the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles quickly went up 16-3 in the first quarter, only to squander the lead on the way to a 20-19 loss. They may also miss starting quarterback Sam Bradford due to a shoulder injury and a possible concussion. X-rays for his shoulder were negative, but it remains to be seen how fast he recovers from his head injury.
Bradford was pretty solid, going 19 of 25 for 236 yards and a score before exiting the game, but he was also sacked four times. Mark Sanchez went 14 for 23 for 156 yards in relief. Wide receiver Brent Celek had the most success in the receiving corps, catching four passes for 134 yards. The passing game could struggle in the next game, considering the Buccaneers have a top 10 passing defense in the league.
If the passing game struggles to take off against the Bucs, the rushing offense will need to do a much better job. Running back DeMarco Murray ran for just 61 yards on 22 carries for a disappointing 2.8 yards per carry. Ryan Mathews rushed for 18 yards on eight carries, but scored a touchdown. The Bucs happen to have a solid rushing defense, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry.
Philadelphia also happens to have a solid defense, which could cause plenty of turnovers. The Eagles rank fifth in the league with 12 interceptions this year. Strong safety Walter Thurmond has been solid with three interceptions, while cornerback Nolan Carroll and linebacker Jordan Hicks each have a pick-six. With that being said, it should be noted that Tampa Bay’s rookie quarterback Jameis Winston has been turnover prone this year with seven interceptions, but has been playing rather efficiently of late.
The Eagles are 3-0 SU/ATS in their last three games against Tampa Bay.
Writer’s Prediction
The Buccaneers score a big win over Philadelphia. Create a betting account now and cash in on the big NFL games to come.
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