Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds previews the upcoming Bucs game with six quick-hitting topics. What’s at stake for the Bucs and their opponent, what will lead to a Tampa Bay victory or loss and a couple of key matchups to watch each week.

The Bucs fell to 2-1 on the season after the team’s 26-7 Week 3 loss at home to the previously winless Broncos. Tampa Bay finishes up a two-game homestand against the Eagles and is trying to get back on track before hitting the road for two important NFC South games at Atlanta and at New Orleans.

What’s At Stake For The Bucs

Bucs RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs need to bounce back from an ugly loss to the Broncos in which neither the offense nor the defense played well. Losing back-to-back games is one thing, but losing back-to-back home games is another. Playoff teams typically have a winning record at home, and the Bucs need to do much better of defending their home turf.

The fact that the Bucs were manhandled on both sides of the ball against the Broncos was alarming, and an even better and more physical team is coming to Tampa Bay this week. The team needs to gets its confidence back and – win or lose – play much better than it did against Denver. Not only did the Broncos execute better, they had more intensity than the Bucs did. Hopefully this young team learned a valuable lesson about taking a lesser, winless team too lightly.

The Bucs do have a 2-o record in the NFC thanks to wins over Washington and Detroit. Sunday’s loss to an AFC foe like Denver won’t hurt as much at the end of the season when it comes to making the playoff tiebreakers or postseason seedings. But a loss to an NFC team like Philly would sting. That’s why a bounce-back win and a 3-0 record in the conference would be ideal.

What’s At Stake For The Eagles

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Photo by: USA Today

The Eagles are two points away from being 3-0. After a convincing win over Green Bay in Brazil to open the season, Philadelphia lost at home to Atlanta on Monday Night Football, 22-21. The Eagles bounced back with an impressive 15-12 win over the Saints in New Orleans last Sunday. The Saints were averaging over 40 points per game, but were held to under two touchdowns by Vic Fangio’s defense.

While Philly rolled up 460 yards of total offense, the team only scored two touchdowns on a pair of Saquon Barkley runs in the fourth quarter, in addition to Barkley running it in for two points. Head coach Nick Sirianni is taking over the play-calling duties as Philly has only averaged 23.3 points per game thus far. Barkley has been the focal point of the offense and that will remain the same, especially due to injuries in the wide receiving corps.

A.J. Brown will miss Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury and fellow starter DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion in New Orleans. In fact, it was a costly win as Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson left the game with a concussion and right guard Mekhi Becton injured his hand and left the game. Cornerback Darius Slay also left the game with an injury with six minutes left. The Eagles are as banged up as the Bucs heading into Sunday’s game.

The Bucs Win If…

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, RB Rachaad White and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay scored 37 points in the season opening win against Washington, then 20 in a win at Detroit and then just a touchdown versus Denver. The Bucs need to get back to finding the end zone frequently – whether it’s through the air, on the ground or with a balanced attack. Quarterback Baker Mayfield needs to settle down and have better pocket presence this week against the Eagles, who will be dropping seven into coverage and rushing four with regularity on Sunday. Having starting right tackle Luke Goedeke back from a concussion this week should be a boost if he clears concussion protocols.

Mayfield ran into some sacks and was too quick to leave clean pockets, which put stress on his offensive line and caused him to miss some open receivers downfield. The Bucs’ longest pass of the game was only 13 yards, and that’s ridiculous given the weapons Tampa Bay has in the passing game. Mike Evans was only targeted three times, which is criminal and that has to change this Sunday. The Bucs also need to start running back Bucky Irving or at least give him more carries as he’s earned it with his production. Irving is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and has 154 yards rushing to lead the team.

Defensively, the Bucs need to make more splash plays. Through three games, Tampa Bay has just two sacks and two interceptions. The team didn’t have any sacks or any interceptions in last week’s loss to Denver. It’s time for the Bucs defense to get pissed off and start winning the turnover battle and collapsing the pocket on Jalen Hurts – but containing him and denying him any lanes to escape. The Bucs will have their hands full slowing down Saquon Barkley – much less stopping him.

The Eagles Win If…

Eagles SS Reed Blankenship – Photo by: USA Today

The Eagles have scored eight touchdowns so far this year and new running back Saquon Barkley has accounted for five of them – four rushing and one receiving. And Barkley has also scored a pair of two-point conversions. In fact, he accounted for all 15 of Philadelphia’s points in the team’s 15-12 comeback win in New Orleans last Sunday. If the Eagles can get Barkley going against the Bucs, they can cruise to their third victory of the season. Barkley already has 351 yards rushing and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Philadelphia will be without starting wide receivers A.J. Brown (hamstring), DeVonta Smith (concussion) and No. 3 receiver Britain Covey (shoulder). So Jalen Hurts will have to rely on newly traded for Jahan Dotson and rookie Johnny Wilson in addition to tight end Dallas Goedert, who leads the team with 239 yards on 17 receptions. Hurts needs to step up as a passer without his top targets and play turnover-free. He has four interceptions and just three touchdowns in three games.

Defensively, the Eagles shut down the potent Saints offense, holding New Orleans to just 12 points after the team scored more than 40 points in each of its first two games. Like the Bucs, the Eagles have struggled getting to the quarterback and picking him off. Philadelphia has just four sacks in three games in Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme and only two interceptions – both by safety Reed Blankenship. Baker Mayfield was easily rattled a week ago. The Eagles need to continue to rattle Mayfield’s cage and put a stop to the Bucs’ struggling ground game.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Offense

Bucs WRs vs. Eagles Secondary

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay’s wide receivers were an afterthought last week as Baker Mayfield only passed for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Chris Godwin led the way with six catches for 53 yards and a TD, while Mike Evans was super quiet with two catches for 17 yards on just three targets. Third receiver Jalen McMillan had one catch for six yards. That was it for the Bucs receivers.

The receivers are Tampa Bay’s strength, and Philadelphia’s strength might be its secondary, which features two great safeties in long-time Bucs nemesis C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship, who leads the team with two picks. The Eagles also have a great starting tandem at cornerback with veteran Darius Slay and first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell. Avonte Maddox is the slot corner and Kelee Ringo also sees some time at cornerback with James Bradberry on injured reserve.

If Tampa Bay is going to win this game, the Bucs receivers are going to have to win against Philadelphia’s zone defense. Vic Fangio will run everything from Cover 1 to Cover 2 to Cover 6. He’s primarily a zone match coordinator, but will mix in some man coverage. The Eagles rarely blitz, so the receivers will have to work to get open and find soft spots in zones as there will be seven dropping in coverage on most downs.

Bucs’ Key Matchup On Defense

Bucs Defensive Tackles vs. Eagles Interior O-Line

Bucs DT Greg Gaines – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Even though Eagles legendary center Jason Kelce retired, Philly’s offensive line is still formidable and still doing the Tush Push – or the Brotherly Shove, whatever you want to call it. The reason is because the interior O-line continues to pack a punch thanks to presence of Pro Bowl offensive tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Except that the Eagles could be without Johnson, who suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s win at New Orleans. And right guard Mehki Becton sustained a finger injury in the Saints game. Both are questionable for Sunday’s game. Becton is 6-foot-7, 363 yards and his loss would be massive indeed.

But the Eagles do have some big backups in guard Tyler Steen (6-6, 321) and tackle Fred Johnson (6-7, 326). The reason this is important is that Tampa Bay’s undersized defensive line got pushed around last week by an underwhelming Denver interior offensive line. Tampa Bay was without starting defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey. The availablity of those starting tackles won’t be known until later in the week, but the quartet of Greg Gaines, Will Gholston, C.J. Brewer and Mike Greene did not play well.

Not only did they not record a single pressure or sack, but the Bucs defensive tackles also didn’t help stop a previously dormant Broncos ground game from running for 136 yards on Sunday. Philadelphia ran for 172 yards in New Orleans, led by Saquon Barkley’s 147 yards and two rushing touchdowns. So stopping the Tush Push in short yardage situations may be the least of the Bucs’ worries up front. Gaines, Gholston, Brewer and Greene will have their hands full, and it may not end well for Tampa Bay.