Buccaneers expect an injury-riddled Eagles offense to bring its ‘A game’ in wild-card rematch

The Eagles are flying south to Raymond James Stadium to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s wild-card playoff game. Both teams head into this week’s matchup 2-1.

The Eagles are riding high after a tough 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is coming off a 26-7 loss to the Denver Broncos in which quarterback Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times.

The Bucs eliminated the Eagles from the playoffs last year with a 32-9 victory. Here’s what some Bucs are saying about the Eagles:

» READ MORE: What Hurricane Helene may mean for the Eagles-Tampa Bay game, the National League wild-card race, and Philly’s weather

After facing the Eagles twice last season, the Bucs believe the familiarity has prepared them for this matchup.

“There’s a lot of the same pieces, so we understand the challenges they bring and the mentality of how physical they play,” Mayfield said. “We each have to bring our best stuff on Sunday. That’s each and every week, but especially this week.”

Said Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum: “Any competitor is going to hope that their opponent brings their A game. And right now, we’re in a state of mind where we’re going to have to bring our A game every single week, too, because we got a tough schedule coming up, and it all starts with Sunday.”

» READ MORE: Twin defensive backs Tristin and Zyon McCollum will square off when the Eagles face the Bucs

For the Eagles, bringing their A game is going to be easier said than done as they head into Sunday with a shorthanded receiving corps — A.J. Brown is still nursing a hamstring injury and DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion in New Orleans.

“You just assume that everybody is playing,” McCollum said. “We want to see their best players play. We want their offense to function as if their pieces are in there. So the way I watch film, I’m just preparing as if everybody is playing.”

» READ MORE: Eagles film review: So far, Jalen Hurts and the offense show improvement against the blitz

Despite the injuries, Bucs coach Todd Bowles still views the Eagles as a major offensive threat.

“Any time you have a Pro Bowler that’s not playing, you’re going to miss something in him,” Bowles said of Brown, who also missed the wild-card game last season. “But they got enough talent with [Dallas] Goedert and the rest of those guys to make plays and they’ve been making plays.

“They won a tough game down in New Orleans, they’re a tough team. Like everybody this year who is dealing with injuries, they’re going to do without until they get [Brown] back.”

One offensive threat who worries the Bucs is Saquon Barkley. The running back leads the NFL in rushing with 351 yards. In Week 3 against the Saints, he ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

“They were already a good team before they got him,” Bowles said. “He’s one of the top two or three running backs in the league right now. Now, you put that behind one of the top two, three offensive lines, and you have nothing but success. Then they have the receivers and tight ends to match, so he’s going to be a load to bring down. He’s got quick feet, he’s powerful, he’s fast, he can catch, he can block, he can do it all.”

McCollum knows the Bucs have to be prepared to stop Barkley.

“He’s a very, very talented back and his jump cut is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,” McCollum said. “They have a big offensive line. We just need to do our job of creating push. If we don’t control the line of scrimmage and we don’t win the first second of every down, then they’ll push us off the ball and continue to run.”

The Eagles play in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Join Eagles beat reporters Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith as they dissect the hottest storylines surrounding the team on Gameday Central, live from Raymond James Stadium.