It was an afternoon on Philadelphia filled with suffering and disappointment as the Eagles were blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by the final score of 45-17.
The Eagles looked as if they were going
to control the afternoon during their first offensive drive. The drive saw a hiccup involving a fumble by DeMarco Murray that was recovered by the Buccaneers, fumbled again, and recovered by the Eagles. The Eagles would manage to pull it together, leading quarterback Mark Sanchez to hit receiver John Huff for a 39-yard touchdown.
The improving Buccaneers offense then took over, and played nearly perfectly. After the Eagles defense gave up a 58-yard run by running back Doug Martin, quarterback Jameis Winston completed a four-yard touchdown pass to a receiver Mike Evans.
Winston and the Buccaneers offense would remain red-hot throughout the first half. The Bucs jumped out and took the lead early in the second quarter with a 13-yard touchdown catch by a returning Vincent Jackson.
Martin would again terrorize the Eagles, this time with a Buccaneers record 84-yard run. Winston took advantage by throwing a four-yard touchdown to Russell Shepard for his third of the half.
Sanchez and the Eagles saw a small spark later in the second half with a 35-yard catch and run for a touchdown by running back Darren Sproles.
The flame would then be put out late in the first half when Winston threw his fourth touchdown of the half to Charles Sims from 14 yards out. Winston finished the half impressively, throwing 13/18 for 147, and four touchdowns.
The Bucs continued their assault on the Eagles in the second half, starting with a nine-minute drive that resulted in a touchdown pass to Cameron Brate, Winston’s fifth touchdown pass of the game.
Not only did the defense continue their struggles, but the offense played the same dismal football from the first half as well with Sanchez throwing his second and third picks of the game to Chris Conte and Lavonte David. The second of the two, also David’s second, was taken in for the touchdown to bury what was left of the Eagles.
The Eagles will head to Detroit to take on the Lions on Thanksgiving afternoon as they look to scrap whatever hope they have left of staying within the NFC East hunt.
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