Sep 28, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper Dejean (33) high fives fans after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck
In Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles' offense looked anemic in the first half and woke up for the second half.
In Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they did the exact opposite.
A 24-6 Eagles halftime lead evaporated into a 31-25 final score as the Birds picked up the win in Tampa and moved to 4-0.
Here are a few takeaways from Sunday's game:
It's Week 4, and the Eagles still have yet to play a complete game.
In the first half, the Birds continued the momentum they built up last week. Following Cameron Latu and Sydney Brown's special teams touchdown (which we'll get to later), the Eagles offense took the field and executed a methodical eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo even flashed some creativity with a shovel pass to Dallas Goedert for the score:
The Eagles jump out to a quick 14-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/CZ3a36BDPn
By the end of the first half, the Eagles had built up a comfortable 24-6 lead. The offense was humming; four first-half drives led to two Dallas Goedert touchdowns, a 39-yard field goal and a punt. The defense also pulled its weight, holding Baker Mayfield and the Bucs to four punts and two field goals.
Then the third quarter started.
The Eagles looked like a totally different team. The offense couldn't find a rhythm. The playcalling was questionable; when the Eagles found themselves facing 3rd & 22 right out of halftime, they elected to have AJ Dillon run the ball for three yards.
Here are the results of the Eagles' second-half drives: Punt, punt, punt, touchdown (on a Tush Push fake, which was cool), punt, punt, punt, safety.
Five of those six punts were three-and-outs, meaning the Eagles defense only had a few moments to recover before they had to go back onto the field in sweltering temperatures that felt like 103 degrees. The defense grinded it out, generating two turnovers and keeping the lethargic offense in the game.
Jalen Hurts was the Eagles' leading rusher with 62 yards. Dallas Goedert led the team with 37 receiving yards.
Nick Sirianni, Patullo and Hurts will certainly have some things to work out this week.
Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay has his unit performing – and blocking kicks – at an elite level.
Exhibit A:
The Eagles’ special teams said YOU get a block🫵 and YOU get a block🫵 and YOU get a block🫵 pic.twitter.com/SNTlPBFcs7
Latu's block and Brown's scoop-and-score put the Eagles up 7-0 just two minutes into the game.
I probably don't need to remind you, but just for fun, let's all rewatch the ending of the Rams-Eagles game again:
Jordan Davis and the Eagles called game!
pic.twitter.com/ZPEudTVDqh
Two blocked field goals last week, with one returned for a touchdown. One blocked punt returned for a touchdown this week. That is excellent production from the oft-overlooked third phase of the game.
On the Buccaneers' third drive of the game, Mayfield completed a four-yard pass to running back Rachaad White on 2nd & 11. Cooper DeJean tackled White. After the play, DeJean stood up and walked over White, since he ended up straddling him after the play ended.
The referees flagged it for taunting.
This Allen Iverson-style step-over got Cooper DeJean flagged for taunting:
(via @Rate_the_Refs) pic.twitter.com/CzPMylTo1x
It could be argued that that step did indeed emulate Allen Iverson's iconic step-over, but let's be real here. How else is DeJean expected to get up? What would the NFL have him do?
On Pattison's Tim Kelly also discussed this issue in last week's Eagles Takeaways. While the NFL is indeed cracking down on taunting and unsportmanlike conduct this year, they can't pick and choose their spots this way. Multiple other celebrations during Sunday's game could have been considered more unsportmanlike than what DeJean did, but they weren't flagged.
A player stood up, walked away, and was flagged for a 15-yard loss. Even if DeJean's intent was to taunt White, the taunt certainly wasn't egregious enough to elicit a penalty. Fans don't want to see this. Teams don't want to see this. What's the point? Who even benefits from this crackdown on taunting?
The Eagles will return home to Lincoln Financial Field in Week 5 to face the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are currently 1-2, and they'll play the Bengals in Week 4 on Monday Night Football.
