On Pattison Picks: Will Eagles stay perfect in the Tampa heat?

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are both currently undefeated. By Sunday evening, one of them will lose that status.

For the fifth time in five seasons, the Eagles are heading on down to Raymond James Stadium to face the Bucs. Tampa has not been kind to the Eagles; the Birds are 1-3 in Tampa since 2021, including two playoff losses. The 90 degree heat may not be kind to the Eagles, either.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Birds are currently 3.5-point road favorites over the Bucs. Here's how our On Pattison staffers think this game will go.

Tim Kelly (3-0)

Score: Buccaneers 27 - Eagles 20

Game MVP: Emeka Egbuka

The Eagles seem to have the number of the Rams since they moved back to Los Angeles. It's kind of been the opposite story for the Buccaneers over the last generation, particularly in Tampa Bay.

Whether it's Matt Bryant kicking a 62-yard walk-off against the Eagles in 2006, or Ryan Fitzpatrick going bombs away in Week 2 of the 2018 season, Tampa Bay has had some devastating wins over the Eagles at Raymond James Stadium.

Granted, none of those losses have to do with this current Eagles team, but it's a reminder of how difficult it is to go into Tampa. It's particularly hard in September when it's still extremely hot.

Even Jalen Hurts – who seemingly wins 90% of the games he starts and finishes – is 1-4 against the Bucs between the regular and postseason.

Baker Mayfield is playing at a very high level, as is early Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Emeka Egbuka. I've seen enough Eagles losses in Tampa that I can't pick an Eagles win at the stadium with the pirate ship.

Anthony SanFilippo (2-1)

Score: Buccaneers 26 - Eagles 23

Game MVP: Mother Nature

Playing football at a high level in 90 degree heat might seem like a convenient excuse for why a team that isn't used to it might not play well, but it's very real.

The Eagles have looked lethargic offensively for stretches in the first three games, and trying to slog through a defensive scheme that has tripped up the Eagles before in the searing heat is tough. 

I also question the Eagles' defensive depth with all their injuries, and I think Tampa puts up some points. And when you consider Vita Vea has been the most successful opposing player against the Tush Push, even the Eagles' best play has some doubts. 

Still, the Eagles are the NFL's best team, so this one can go either way. I just think the Bucs will, um, sweat this one out.

Grace Del Pizzo (2-1)

Score: Buccaneers 30 - Eagles 26

Game MVP: Bucky Irving

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Well, call me insane, because I'm picking against the Eagles – the Eagles who are 19-1 in their last 20 games, mind you – for the second week in a row.

For some reason, the Eagles are allergic to winning at Raymond James Stadium, and for some reason, they always end up playing a game at Raymond James Stadium. Including two postseason matchups, the Eagles have played the Bucs in Tampa four times in the last four seasons. The Birds went 1-3. Their lone win came in Sept. 2023, but four months later, the Bucs mercifully ended the Eagles' 2023 collapse in the Wild Card Round.

Mike Evans is out, Chris Godwin is questionable and the Bucs' O-line is in bad shape, so the Buccaneers will have to heavily rely on explosive running back Bucky Irving. With Nolan Smith going on IR this week, I don't know if the Eagles have an answer for him. And even with all those injuries on offense, Baker Mayfield has still been lighting it up for the past three weeks. 

The Buccaneers have played three close games so far, and they've won all three by the skin of their teeth. The Eagles aren't good at putting teams away, so if they let the Bucs hang around, that might be all she wrote.

I think the Eagles will lose, but it'll be a productive loss. They'll learn some lessons, they'll build off of them, and they'll benefit in the long run, just like last year.