The Bucs Have Been Better Than The Eagles In The Last Month
There has been a lot of talk about how lucky the Eagles are to draw the Bucs in the first round. And on paper, that is true. The Bucs have the worst record of any team in the playoffs, and only made it in because the NFC South is the worst division in Football. Their competition are the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers. But if we narrow the focus, and look just at the last month, it may be the Bucs who are lucky to be playing the Eagles.
Here is what the two teams have done since the start of December
Eagles- 1-5 record, 20.5 Points Scored Per Game, 30.3 Points Allowed Per Game, -59 point differential
Bucs- 5-1 record, 22.7 Points Scored Per Game, 16.3 Points Allowed Per Game, +38 Point differential
The caveat here is that the Bucs played the Panthers twice, the Saints, and the Falcons. But they also played and beat the Packers, who are a playoff team. Meanwhile, the Eagles got crushed by the two playoff teams they played and then got beaten by the Giants and Cardinals. So the weak schedule knock on the Bucs doesn’t really fly when the Eagles lost to teams in the gutter of the NFL.
The Eagles have some really impressive wins earlier in the season. But they have been worse than almost any team in the league these past 6 games. And right now, the Bucs are coming in playing better football.
They are not playing great Football, but their defense is good and their offense has had moments. But the Eagles have been a complete mess on both sides of the ball. Only one defense has allowed more points than them in that time, and the teams piling up points on them are the Cardinals and the Giants.
So before you ask if the Eagles are lucky to play the Bucs, consider if maybe it is the other way around.
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Philadelphia Eagles Projected Starters: NFC Wild Card Round
Jalen Hurts
Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020D'Andre Swift
Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)DeVonta Smith
Wide Receiver, #6
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (10th overall) in 2021Julio Jones
Wide Receiver, #80
University of Alabama
13th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)Quez Watkins
Wide Receiver, #16
Southern Miss
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (200th overall) in 2020Dallas Goedert
Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018Jordan Mailata
Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018Landon Dickerson
Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021Jason Kelce
Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011Cam Jurgens
Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022Lane Johnson
Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013Josh Sweat
Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018Fletcher Cox
Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012Jordan Davis
Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022Haason Reddick
Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)Zach Cunningham
Linebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)Shaquille Leonard
Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)Darius Slay
Cornerback, #2
Mississippi State
11th NFL Season- Acquired in trade from Detroit Lions (March 2020)James Bradberry
Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)Avonte Maddox
Cornerback, #29
University of Pittsburgh
Drafted in 4th Round (125th overall) in 2018Kevin Byard
Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)Reed Blankenship
Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)
