Monday, 4 a.m
The start was too slow. The mistakes were too plentiful. The hole was too deep.
And so it that the Tampa Bay Bucs are no longer undefeated.
The Bucs lost their first game of the year Sunday, as the Philadelphia Eagles surged to a commanding edge in the first half and coasted, 31-25.
The Eagles played the defending Super Bowl champions they are in the first half. They built a 24-6 and seemed as if they were a level higher than the Bucs.
The Eagles played like the defending Super Bowl champions they are in the first half. They built a 24-6 and seemed as if they were a level higher than the Bucs. the Bucs couldn’t run, couldn’t throw and couldn’t punt.
The second half was different. Tampa Bay outscored Philadelphia 19-7 but fell just short.
The Eagles returned a block punt for a touchdown. They recovered a fumble at the Bucs' 25 and interecepted a pass in the end zone. They have won 20 of their last 21 games.
Overall, the Bucs had 376 to 200 yards for the Eagles, but their mistakes did them in.
In the second half, Baker Mayfield threw touchdowns of 77 yards to Emeke Egbuka and 72 yards to Bucky Irving. The Bucs defense held Jalen Hurts to incompetions on all eight of his passes.
In the first half, Mayfield had just 65 yards. Irving had 29 yards and Egbuka had two catches for 19 yards. Hurts was 15 of 16 with two interceptions.
Irving ended the game with five catches for 102 yards, while Egbuka had four catches for 101.
Placekicker Chase McLaughlin kicked field goals of 65 and 58 yards. The first of those was a franchise record.
Returner Kameron Johnson returning kickoffs and punts for 142 yards, ncluding a 46-yard punt return.
The Bucs are on the road next week at 4:05 p.m. at Seattle.
