The Bucs came out onto the field Sunday afternoon looking to get back on track after losing to the 0-2 Broncos last week. Facing the 2-1 Eagles, they had a more formidable challenger, and they responded as well as they could’ve drawn it up — especially given the injuries they were dealing with. Tampa Bay raced out to a 24-0 lead in the first half and went on to win 33-16, getting to 3-1 ahead of a tough two-game stretch against NFC South foes.

Here is what — and who — was most impressive in the Week 4 win:

Bucs’ First Offensive Drive

They did it.

After not putting together an opening-drive touchdown since Week 18 of the 2022 regular season (23 games), the Bucs finally ended that drought. To open the game, Tampa Bay went on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was well-called by offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

Coen utilized the weapons on offense by scheming up a lot of motion to the flats, which allowed Rachaad White to find space for a 17-yard run and catch a screen pass for 22 yards. As the team was nearing the end zone, it was the always-reliable Mike Evans who hauled in a 2-yard touchdown to become the Bucs’ all-time leading scorer.

All around, it was as good of an opening drive as the team has had in a long time.

QB Baker Mayfield

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Maybe it was the pre-game pep talk from Tom Brady.

From the start of the game, Baker Mayfield came out firing, and by the middle of the first quarter, Mayfield had completed 12 of his 13 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns. On the day, he completed 30 of 47 passes for 347 passing yards and two touchdowns.

In doing so, he was efficient and stayed poised in the pocket after a game in which he scrambled to his demise to try and make things happen. Against an Eagles defense with plenty of talent, Mayfield distributed the ball to all his weapons, from Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and even Trey Palmer and Sterling Shepard.

As if his performance with his arm was not enough, he even took it himself on a read option from a yard out to add a rushing touchdown for good measure.

OC Liam Coen

From the beginning, Liam Coen called a great game as the Bucs put together three (and almost four) touchdown drives to make it a 24-0 game. Whether it was using plenty of motion to get guys open or sprinkling in creative runs, Coen schemed ways to get Baker Mayfield off to a hot start and for his weapons to get the ball and make chunk plays. The team’s play-caller deserves credit for how he attacked things this week.

Bucs Defense, Pass Rush Shutting Down Jalen Hurts And Co.

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So much for the Eagles’ offense keeping up. The Bucs defense was lights-out throughout the game, forcing three-and-outs as Jalen Hurts struggled without wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Operating with a skeleton crew led by Jahan Dotson, Hurts failed to get them the football. He finished the day completing just 18 of his 30 passes for 154 passing yards and a touchdown.

In terms of pass rush, Yaya Diaby applied consistent pressure in the pocket and got his first sack of the season while forcing a fumble on the play. Vita Vea created more havoc in the trenches. Lavonte David was vintage Lavonte David, racking up two sacks. Logan Hall got his first sack in a long time. Anthony Nelson even added one. All in all, they had six sacks on the day.

This is the kind of defensive performance a stoic Todd Bowles can be pretty excited about.

ILB Lavonte David

Lavonte David’s still got it.

David put together an impressive game up the middle and was the Bucs’ leading tackler. Early on, he recorded his 1,500th career NFL tackle. In the third quarter, David made a splash play when Jalen Hurts tried to find an open receiver. The veteran linebacker smartly came up from behind to bat the ball out of his hands and notch a sack-fumble that defensive tackle Ben Stille recovered. He got his second sack in the fourth quarter.

For Lavonte David, it was just another day at the office.

Bucs’ Run Game – Finally

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

It has been something fans and media alike have been clamoring for, and it finally came to fruition. Bucky Irving got more carries, and the run game got going in a big way.

Irving dazzled and turned his 10 carries into 49 rushing yards. He also made a catch that caught Tom Brady’s eye. Then, if that was not enough, he found the end zone later on the same drive for his first NFL touchdown.

It wasn’t quite the flu game for Rachaad White, but it was the food poisoning game for the young running back who was listed as questionable coming in. It was his best game of the season and looked more like the version of White from last year who strung together some big games from scrimmage.

White had a 17-yard run on his first carry and caught a deflected pass for 22 yards. Those two plays got him and the offense going. Overall, he matched Irving’s production on the ground with 10 carries and 49 yards to go with his two catches for 35 yards.

Add in Mayfield’s 1-yard touchdown run, and the run game turned the page after a sluggish early-season start to have a productive afternoon.

WR Mike Evans

Bucs WR Mike Evans and former Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: USA Today

Mike Evans makes this list after two quiet games. Evans was overdue to be featured on offense, and he caught the first ball thrown from Baker Mayfield to begin the game. He would have eight catches on the day for 94 receiving yards.

His highlight of the day, and one of the biggest of his career, ended the Bucs’ scoreless opening drive streak and etched him into the team’s record books as the all-time leading scorer with 596 points.

Who better to call it than a guy who threw him plenty of touchdowns in three years in Tampa Bay?

NT Vita Vea

Bucs DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Bucs sorely missed Vita Vea’s presence after he suffered a knee injury in Week 2. Vea came through early in the first quarter, sacking Jalen Hurts on third down and forcing them to punt.

Those are the kinds of plays that the defense has needed this season. With the big guy back, he was able to affect the game and close the pocket around Hurts. He had two tackles for loss, including the sack.

Bucs Offensive Line

The Bucs offensive line struggled last Sunday in surrendering seven sacks, but they cleaned it up mightily on Sunday. They gave Baker Mayfield a much cleaner pocket this time and did well to create lanes for the running backs to hit. Defensive end Brandon Graham did go unguarded on the left side and got an easy sack in the first quarter and defensive end Josh Sweat added another in the third quarter, but it was otherwise a mostly clean game from the big guys.

Bucs WR No.3s Trey Palmer And Sterling Shepard

Filling in for Jalen McMillan, who suffered a hamstring injury on Friday, Trey Palmer did well replacing him as the team’s third wide receiver. Early in the game, Liam Coen utilized his speed going in motion to catch the Eagles’ defense off guard, which resulted in him getting a couple of early touches.

His biggest play came on the second drive, with Baker Mayfield throwing a dart across the middle that Palmer hauled in for a 15-yard touchdown. After that play, he would leave the game with a concussion, but he impressed in the time he saw the field.

Sterling Shepard then filled in for Palmer and re-established the connection he had with his one-time Oklahoma Sooners quarterback. Shepard looked as spry as ever, leaping to make a tough catch for 30 yards. He had three catches for 51 receiving yards, an impressive 17-yards per catch.

Seeing other wide receivers outside of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin getting involved and having a big impact was encouraging.

WR Chris Godwin

The other Bucs’ star wide receiver had quite the day himself. Chris Godwin continued to be heavily involved and finished the game with six catches for 69 receiving yards. That included a nice 28-yard catch and run in the first half down the right sideline where he put a move on cornerback Avonte Maddox. Godwin continued his great start with another nice performance.

K Chase McLaughlin

Chase McLaughlin connected on both field goals, including a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter. McLaughlin is now 7-of-7 on field goals this year and 3-3 from more than 50 yards out.

ILB J.J. Russell – On Special Teams

With the Bucs’ punt team coming out for the first time late in the first quarter, they recovered the football thanks to the instincts of inside linebacker J.J. Russell. Russell made the 53-man roster coming out of the preseason in part due to his special teams skills. Eagles punt returner/cornerback Cooper DeJean muffed the punt as defensive back Josh Hayes was pushed into him. With the ball there for the taking, Russell hustled and recovered it, giving the offense a short field as they looked to make it a three-score game.