First of all

The Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated from the postseason chase by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just defeated them with an impressive showing of balance. It is imperative that they examine the nuances of the Buccaneers’ play, highlighting their strategic balance on both sides of the ball, as they prepare to take on the Detroit Lions.

The Philadelphia Eagles were defeated 32–9 by the Buccaneers from Tampa Bay on the evening of Monday at Raymond James Stadium to guarantee that a new NFC representative would be playing in the Super Bowl.

Among the few quarterbacks in Buccaneers history to record 300+ passing yards in a postseason contest is Baker Mayfield, who has done so three times alongside Tom Brady.

In Monday’s game, the following are the main narratives for both teams:

The Tampa Bay Bucs

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was playing in his third career playoff game and his first with the Bucs. He threw for three touchdowns of 56, 44, and 23 yards. Outside linebacker Anthony Nelson’s safety in the third quarter highlighted a masterful performance by coach Todd Bowles’ defense.

This game was a rematch from the third week of the season, when the Eagles defeated the Bucs for the first time. But the Bucs were strong on both sides of the ball this time around, taking advantage of home-field advantage after winning the NFC South during the regular season and securing the No. 4 seed.

Despite suffering from rib and ankle problems, Mayfield managed to complete 22 of 36 passes for 337 yards and no interceptions, and the defense only allowed the Eagles to gain 275 yards. The defense restricted the Eagles to 41 running yards after they had been gashed for 201 yards by the Bucs earlier in the game. They also had six quarterback hits and three sacks of Jalen Hurts.

Stepping away from the field is a promising trend: The Eagles were 0 for 9 on third downs and 0 for 2 on fourth. They also gave up a 55-yard pass to DeVonta Smith, which allowed Hurts to score a 5-yard touchdown pass, but inside linebacker K.J. Britt stopped a quarterback sneak on the subsequent 2-point conversion attempt from the 1-yard line following an offside call on Zyon McCollum on the extra point attempt. When Hurts needed one yard or fewer to enter the game, he was 34 of 37 on the “tush push”.

Purchase during a breakthrough performance: With five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Mayfield found a wide-open David Moore on a crossing pass, and the two connected for a 44-yard touchdown on third-and-7. Moore finished the game with two catches for 66 yards. It was his second grab of the first half. Moore gained just 94 yards throughout the regular season, but he did have a 52-yard touchdown reception to end the Bucs’ victory over the Green Bay Packers in Week 15.

Disappointing trend: The offense appeared to be much more in rhythm than it had over the last two weeks of the regular season, but they were still prone to drops. In just the first half, there were six, with Mike Evans, tight end Cade Otton, running backs Chase Edmonds and Rachaad White, and wide receiver Brock Evans all contributing three.

Next game: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC, at the Lions

Eagles of Philadelphia

Now that the Eagles’ fall is complete, the difficult task of determining how to go as a team must be undertaken. The Eagles’ wild-card playoff defeat to the Bucs on Monday was marred by the same problems that beset them late in the season: shoddy tackling, weak defensive coverage in the middle of the field, and patchy offensive performance.

They started the season with a 10-1 record, but were outmatched by the 9-8 Bucs, and ended up with six losses in seven games.

There hasn’t been an NFC club that has lost one season and advanced to the title game to return to the Super Bowl since the Minnesota Vikings in 1974. However, given how drastically this squad collapsed, CEO Jeffrey Lurie with his Eagles’ management need to look into this more.

He has to determine whether the finger-pointing that started nearly as soon as the team lost was a normal reaction from a talented locker room that was disappointed with their performance in the face of great expectations, or whether there was a deeper issue. In order to lead the team back to the top of the standings and put quarterback Jalen Hurts back on an MVP trajectory, Lurie will need to determine whether coach Nick Sirianni is the best choice.

The Eagles are about to embark on a crucial offseason.

Important play: In the latter minutes of the third quarter, Hurts found himself in the end zone while facing a third-and-6 close to his own goal line. Anthony Nelson, a linebacker, tackled him. At the last second, Hurts tossed the ball away, but he was called for intentional grounding, which led to a safety. Tampa scored a touchdown on the following play to help seal the victory, extending the Bucs’ advantage to 18-9.

The biggest weakness in the game plan: was that the coaching staff had told players going into the game that they intended to play physically and rely on their team’s strength as well as the offensive and defensive lines. Running the ball, according to left tackle Jordan Mailata, is “critical” and essential to winning the game. However, after scoring two touchdowns to start the game, Philadelphia only carried the ball three more times for a total of five carries for 17 yards in the first half. They attempted the second fewest rushes in the half thus far this season. In their Week 3 encounter with the Buccaneers, the Eagles amassed 201 yards of running.

Trend worth watching: DeVonta Smith became the first Eagles player ever to earn 100 receiving yards in consecutive postseason games (Smith scored 100 yards in Super Bowl LVII). In addition, Smith joins Keith Jackson and Fred Barnett as the only other players in Eagles history to have multiple postseason games with 100 yards or more in receiving. His 55-yard grab late in the subsequent minute set the stage for the Eagles’ lone touchdowns of the first half. — Timothy McManus.

• Quarterback Mastery:

The seasoned quarterback, Tom Brady, is the driving force behind the Buccaneers’ offensive success. His decision-making and leadership skills were essential in breaking down the Eagles’ defense. Brady demonstrated his signature accuracy by using a combination of short and deep passes to keep the defenders guessing.

•  Regaining Dominance:

The Buccaneers’ attack became more intricate with the addition of Ronald Jones II and Leonard Fournette as a running back tandem. Fournette’s adaptability against the Eagles was evident as he combined strong rushes with efficient pass-catching skills. This explosive backfield presents a serious task for the Lions defense to control.

• Flexible Recipients:

A major factor in the Bucs’ triumph over the Eagles was the receiving corps, which was spearheaded by players like Antonio Brown, Chris Godwin, and Mike Evans. It was difficult for the Eagles to address the mismatches that the three generated by stretching the field both vertically and horizontally. With this versatile receiving group, the secondary for the Lions needs to prepare for the task.

I. Outstanding Defensive Play:

•  The Predominant Seven:

When facing the Eagles, Tampa Bay’s defensive line proved to be a strong opponent. The Buccaneers’ disruptive style of play limited the Eagles’ running game and continually pressured the quarterback, thanks to the leadership of defensive tackles Vita Vea and Ndamukong Suh. The Lions need to take advantage of this strength in the trenches in order to gain offensive momentum.

• Adjacent Lockdown:

The Buccaneers’ secondary, which included players such as Antoine Winfield Jr. and Carlton Davis, was excellent at covering receivers for the Eagles. Securing the win was largely dependent on their ability to block passing lanes and create turnovers. Against this well-organized and disciplined secondary, the Lions’ passing game will be put to the test.

II. Masterful Coaching:

• The Strategic Leadership of Bruce Arians:

The Eagles game demonstrated head coach Bruce Arians’ strategic brilliance. One of the best coaches in the league, he demonstrated this by his ability to adjust to the changing dynamics of the game, make critical judgments during play, and take advantage of the vulnerabilities of the opposition. The Buccaneers’ ability to strategically prepare will be essential as they get ready to play the Lions.

• Byron Leftwich, the offensive coordinator, calling plays:

Byron Leftwich, the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers, designed a complex and erratic game plan to counter the Eagles. His playcalling created possibilities for explosive plays by keeping the opposition guessing. Destroying the defensive systems of the Lions will depend on Leftwich’s ability to continue being as creative.

• Todd Bowles, the defensive coordinator, is a tactical mastermind:

Todd Bowles, the defensive coordinator, created a strategy that weakened the Eagles’ attack and took advantage of their weaknesses. Throughout the whole game, the Eagles were off balance due to the aggressive and well-coordinated defensive plans. Bowles’s strategic acumen will be vital in formulating a strategy to counter the offensive threats posed by the Lions.

• Impact of Special Teams:

The Buccaneers’ triumph over the Eagles was greatly aided by the special teams unit, which is sometimes disregarded. The team’s overall balance was enhanced by the precision of kicker Ryan Succop and the ability of punter Bradley Pinion to reverse field position. Special teams could be essential to preserving control of the game as they get ready for the Lions.

The season has ended. On to the next game.

In summary:

A testament to their balanced approach on both sides of the ball was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ elimination of the Philadelphia Eagles. Keeping this balance is going to be crucial for them as they prepare to play the Detroit Lions. A powerful force that the Lions have to contend with is created by the offense’s varied approach, the defense’s dominant play, and the coaching staff’s astute strategic judgment. Will the Buccaneers push through the playoffs and maintain their well-balanced offensive effort? A tough matchup awaits the Lions, as the Buccaneers are a formidable opponent. One thing is certain, but only time will demonstrate.