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BUCCANEERS vs. EAGLES

WHEN: Sunday, September 28, 2025 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Kevin Burkhardt | ANALYST: Tom Brady | SIDELINE: Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: This Feels Like A Revenge Game For The Eagles

Remember when the Bucs went up to Detroit in Week 2 highly motivated and extracted some revenge against the Lions for knocking them out of the postseason in the Divisional playoff game in 2023? I feel like Philadelphia is coming down to Tampa Bay to get some revenge against a Bucs team that has kicked the crap out of the Eagles in the last two meetings at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs beat the Eagles, 32-9, in the 2023 Wild Card round, and 33-16 last year. After losing in Week 4 at Tampa Bay, Philly went on to win 10 straight games and finished with a 14-3 record en route to winning the Super Bowl.

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Can the Bucs beat the Eagles? Sure. No team has had Philly’s number like Tampa Bay has. Todd Bowles’ defense has made life miserable for Jalen Hurts, who is 1-4 in five games versus the Bucs. Hurts has been sacked 13 times in those games and thrown five interceptions. Tampa Bay’s defense is playing really good football right now and is one of the best teams at stopping the run in the league. Saquon Barkley was held in check last year outside of one big run.

On offense the Bucs won’t have Mike Evans, and Tampa Bay rarely wins without him. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs and wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. return to action for the first time this year, but will it be enough to defeat the defending Super Bowl champs? I have to give the edge on special teams to the Eagles, and that’s where this game could be decided – with a blocked field goal or blocked punt. Jordan Davis blocked two field goals last year, returning one for a touchdown, while the Bucs had one blocked and returned for a touchdown by the Jets. Tampa Bay loses narrowly on Sunday.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 26, Bucs 23
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Matt Matera: Returning Bucs Not Enough To Overcome Eagles

The Bucs have had a good deal of success against the Eagles recently, but that’s when Philadelphia hasn’t been at 100 percent. Their duo of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have not lost when they all play together in a game. That’s tough to overcome. 

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and GM Jason Licht – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Tampa Bay is very banged up too going into this game, but help is on the way with left tackle Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin Jr. making their season debut’s. The mere presence of each player gives them a better chance, and Wirfs opens up many more possibilities running and passing it. I’m curious how Godwin will be used. Will he play a majority of the snaps or be on a pitch count? Is he a decoy or part of the gameplan? There will be some rust for both Wirfs and Godwin to knock off. 

I’m confident the Bucs will be able to slow down Saquon Barkley running the football. Anytime Vita Vea is involved, it doesn’t matter who lines up next to him, although rookie Elijah Roberts has done a good job. Where I do worry is Barkley matchup up with SirVocea Dennis out in open space in the passing game. That’s an issue for the Bucs. Missing Mike Evans will hurt this week as Wirfs and Godwin get reacquainted with playing football again.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 30, Bucs 23
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Adam Slivon: Bucs Will Be Competitive Against The Eagles, But Fall Just Short

In what will be the must-watch game of the week, the 3-0 Eagles come into town to play the 3-0 Bucs. Philadelphia and Tampa Bay will square off yet again, playing each other for the third straight regular season, with an additional playoff matchup sandwiched in between. They have seen each other a lot and have the potential to compete once again in the playoffs this season. Before then, Week 4 serves as a litmus test for both teams.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

On the Bucs’ side of things, they are still battling injuries but could be welcoming back Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin Jr. into the fold. That would be a big boost for an offense that has had to rely on a reshuffled offensive line and a wide receiver corps now without Mike Evans, too. That would help Baker Mayfield and Co. string together longer drives, with Wirfs and Godwin adding stability to a unit that has been winging it.

That will not fly (pun intended) against an Eagles defense that is spoiled with quality players at each level. Tampa Bay is not playing the Falcons, Texans, or Jets, three teams that have struggled to a collective 1-8 record out of the gate. No, they are playing a team that will capitalize on every mistake and missed opportunity. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and Sunday poses a challenge for Josh Grizzard to work with what he has.

Defensively is where I see the Bucs staying in this game. They have had Jalen Hurts’ number recently. This time around, Hurts will have A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith to throw to, but Tampa Bay’s secondary has been the unit’s biggest strength. The pass rush has complemented the coverage well, and a deciding factor will be how well they hold up. Saquon Barkley has gotten off to a slow start and is playing a stingy run defense. Ultimately, the Eagles are the more talented team, facing a resilient Bucs’ squad that does not quit. In a close game, that will give them the edge with Tampa Bay falling short.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 27, Bucs 24
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Bailey Adams: Banged-Up Bucs Fall Just Short Of 4-0 Start

Last week, I titled my prediction “Injuries Could Catch Up To The Bucs, But Not This Week.” Sure enough, Tampa Bay survived a late scare and remained undefeated with a win over the New York Jets. I’d love to believe that the injuries won’t catch up to the Bucs this week and that the potential returns of Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin Jr. could be enough to beat the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and continue this team’s recent run of success against Philly. But I think this time, Tampa Bay ends up on the wrong side of another close game.

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

The more I dove into this matchup this week, the more I talked myself into the Bucs potentially coming away with another win. I like what Todd Bowles’ defense has done to start this season and I believe the much-improved secondary can match up well with A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith, doing enough to slow down the Eagles passing game. And I don’t really see a situation where Saquon Barkley runs wild against a good Tampa Bay run defense. In other words, I think the Buccaneers defense keeps this game close.

And as much as I want to believe Baker Mayfield and the offense will find a way to win a close game yet again (and I kind of do…), everything ultimately evens out in sports, right? There’s bound to come a time when the bounce doesn’t fall in the Bucs’ favor and they drop a one-score game. It’s not hard to see that happening against a team as talented (and healthy) as the Eagles, which is why I just can’t bring myself to bank on another Buccaneers win. Philly gets some revenge for recent struggles in Tampa, winning by four to emerge 4-0.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 24, Bucs 20
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 3-0

Josh Queipo: Jalen Hurts Leads The Eagles To A Win Over The Bucs

With a running game that has yet to reach its potential, the Eagles offense has been lackluster to say the least. For the traditionalists out there, they are 27th in yards per game and 27th in yards per play. Their scoring metrics look better due to some short field their defense has handed them and a special teams touchdown. Looking at the true efficiency of their offense, they are 21st in EPA/pass with their dropback offense actually costing them in most situations and Saquon Barkley has not been a great help. He is averaging under 3.5 yards per carry and a negative EPA/rush.

Bucs OLB Anthony Nelson, ILB KJ Britt, DT Vita Vea and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The only thing going for this Eagles offense right now is the rejuvenated legs of Jalen Hurts. Which is where the biggest key to this matchup lies. If the Bucs can contain the quarterback scramble and run, something they have largely struggled to do this year – just about the only thing they have struggled to do on defense this year – they can keep this a low-scoring affair that they can win. Unfortunately, I just don’t see that happening to the needed level and Hurts hitting for a couple of key runs that will lead to crucial scores for the Eagles.

On offense the Bucs will put together a couple of strong drives and show a glimpse of what the offense is capable of outside of the two-minute drill, but Baker Mayfield’s turnover luck will normalize some with a key lost fumble ultimately dooming the Bucs. Overall Tampa Bay hangs with the Super Bowl champs, but come up just short in the end.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Eagles 20, Bucs 17
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 3-0