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If you’re the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s a return to the scene of the crime.

Philly was ignominiously bounced in the wild-card round of last season’s playoffs on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an ugly (32-9) effort. Bucs’ quarterback Baker Mayfield had 337 passing yards (three touchdowns). There was even a chalk outline.

Now, both teams enter at 2-1 ahead of this engagement Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia remains on the road after a gutsy 15-12 win over the previously high-octane Saints in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Tampa was on the wrong end of a burn-the-film 26-7 home debacle against the previously pitiful (and winless) Denver Broncos.

Philly is a tepid one-point favorite (total at 45), according to NFL odds.

It’s Tampa with a 12-11 lead in the all-time series (including postseason), and 5-1 in the last six.

Those Injured Iggles

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown – Photo by: USA Today

If you can catch the football, contact the Philadelphia Eagles Football Club. Leading receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) missed the last two games, DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion against the Saints last week and Britain Covey (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve.

Add in veteran offensive lineman Lane Johnson (also concussed), so not a full-strength Eagles’ outfit in this game.

Covey had been the team’s punt returner, with that role now going to rookie Cooper DeJean.

Philly will again rely heavily on tight end Dallas Goedert (10 catches, 170 yards against New Orleans), with sporadic doses of Jahan Dotson, Parris Campbell and rookie Johnny Wilson.

The Tampa Bucky-neers

Tampa Bay rookie running back Bucky Irving is outplaying Rachaad White.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Irving, the former Oregon Duck, has 25 rushes (154 yards, 6.2 yards/carry). White’s been listed as the starter the past three weeks, but only 66 rushing yards (31 carries, 2.1 yards/carry).

Regardless of who’s toting the pigskin, the team needs a quick case of amnesia after a poor effort. Denver had a 17-0 lead and was never threatened, eventually ending with a 26-7 win. It was the Broncos outgaining their hosts 353 yards to 223, while the defense sacked Baker Mayfield seven times (and none by the Bucs).

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix earned his first win in the league, and not coincidentally his first game without an interception. Nix was picked twice in a pair of losses, though without a touchdown pass through three games.

Back to the Bucs, where veteran wideouts Chris Godwin and Mike Evans have a combined 40 receptions, each averaging 12 yards/catch.

Buccaneers in Encore

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Philly is 9-2 (+450) to win the NFC, while Tampa is 22-1 (+2200), as per NFL conference odds.

While the Philadelphia Eagles earned all sorts of props slowing down the Saints in NOLA last Sunday, it’s difficult to overlook an offense that’s so depleted at wide receiver. Quarterback Jalen Hurts (three touchdowns, four interceptions) just can’t be fairly assessed until his corps gets back in the huddle.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has surrendered nearly 138 rushing yards per game, so don’t be surprised if Hurts is more active with his legs, while Saquon Barkley (league-leading 351 rushing yards, 5.6 yards/carry) is kept quite occupied.

Accepting the improbability of beating good teams in consecutive weeks on the road, along with Philly’s shorthanded status, we therefore endorse the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+115) to win outright at home Sunday afternoon.