Going through phases: Eagles needed full team effort to escape Tampa with win

This story originally appeared on Inside The Birds.

TAMPA, Fla. – For at least a half of football, it appeared as though the Eagles were stringing together their most complete game of the season, ironically enough inside the confines of Raymond James Stadium, a house of horrors over the years for Nick Sirianni’s bunch.

All three phases were in full effect, delivering enough haymakers to put the Buccaneers on the ropes heading into the break.

The offense that rolled up two first-half touchdowns, showcasing creativity and the aggressiveness that was frequently referenced in the days leading up. Jalen Hurts had compiled a 140.1 quarterback rating, completing 15 of 16 pass attempts for 130 yards and two scores after 30 minutes of football.

But this week, much like when the field goal block unit last week called game in a thriller against the Rams, reinforced the collective team effort required to upend the Buccaneers, 31-25, and return to Philadelphia at 4-0. The offense suddenly sputtered, producing five 3-and-outs to open the second half.

Hurts and the passing game were disjointed. and there was next to no running room for running back Saquon Barkley, who managed only 43 yards on 19 carries.

Making matters worse for the Eagles, the stagnancy on offense afforded the Bucs with enough time to figure things out, rolling up 17 second half points, including a pair of touchdowns that covered over 70 yards. For the Eagles to pull this out, inspired efforts from the defense and special teams were required, highlighting the completeness of this Eagles team.

The Eagles’ special teams said YOU get a block🫵 and YOU get a block🫵 and YOU get a block🫵 pic.twitter.com/SNTlPBFcs7

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) September 28, 2025

Special teams spotted the offense seven points to start, when tight end Cam Latu knifed through and rejected a Riley Dixon punt, batting the ball into the waiting arms of safety Sydney Brown, who scooted 36 yards into the end zone moments into the game.

“First, I would say Coach [Michael] Clay had a great call called up,” Latu said. “He schemed it up really well. We just all executed at a high level, all 11. And it took all 11, and I ended up being the one to come free. So, I was just grateful for my opportunity. But it wouldn’t have happened without the other guys on the field.”

“I really didn’t do shit,” Brown said, offering his perspective of the play. “The ball just kind of bounced my way, and I just ran with it. I didn’t do anything other than the ball bouncing in my hands.”

For the second consecutive week, it proved to be the difference in a narrow victory. Brown attributed the special teams surge to the competitiveness and detail that they execute on a daily basis.

“I think what we do great on this team – and what other teams don’t do — our special teams guys have roles,” Brown explained. “Everybody has a role to complete throughout the week. And it’s not like we bullshit around. I think everybody goes out there, they play hard, they understand what we need to do to be successful and what Clay, Tyler Brown and Joe [Pannunzio] are giving us.

“That’s what we do, we dominate it and I think that when you play complementary football, I think special teams is one of those three phases that can really impact the game.

On the defensive side, the Eagles received heroic efforts from a number of players, including cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo and Parry Nickerson.

The defensive line got home with the game hanging in the balance. But it was the second level play from linebackers Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell that took potential points off the board from a surging Bucs offense.

Down 24-13, the Bucs offense set up at their own 17. Their last drive had resulted in a 77-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield to rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and the energy in the stadium was palpable. Accepting the snap from shotgun, running back Bucky Irving eyed some room on the left side. He would only gain two yards before he was stripped by Campbell. Ringo recovered, returning possession to the Eagles at the 25. They scored six plays later, courtesy of a six-yard Saquon Barkley run to extend the lead to 31-13.

But Campbell, the hero on the previous drive would be victimized on the next, surrendering a perfectly placed reception along the left sideline into the hands of Irving, who pulled away for a 72-yard touchdown.

Baun, who’d reflected back to similar situations earlier in his career that would shake his psyche for the remainder of the game, had some wise words for his fellow linebacker.

“I told him on the sideline, ‘You got 20 seconds to think about this and be mad at yourself and then you gotta let it go,'” Baun said. “And that’s exactly what he did.”

Abiding by the wise words of his veteran positionmate, Campbell came back strong later in the final frame, coming up with a play that arguably saved the game for the Eagles with just under eight minutes to play.

The Bucs, trailing 31-23, were marching, engineering a drive that had led them down to the Eagles’ 11-yard line. On a 1st-and-10, Mayfield attempted to fit a short pass in to wide receiver Chris Godwin off to the right, but the pass was deflected by safety Reed Blankenship – into the hands of a diving Campbell, who secured the interception for a touchback.

The play illustrated Campbell’s mental resolve and ability to abide by a next-play mentality but also bailed the Eagles out of muddy waters, underscored by a faltering offense failing to generate any semblance of second half production.

Then, there was the final Tampa drive, when the tension throughout Raymond James Stadium was thick. Coming out of the two-minute warning, the Bucs were faced with a 2nd-and-12 from the Eagles’ 40. Storming through to drop Mayfield for a nine-yard loss, and halting any momentum, was defensive tackle Moro Ojomo.

The play essentially let the air out of any hope the Bucs had of authoring a gutsy come-from-behind win. It also highlighted the “tough, detailed, together,” mantra often referenced by Sirianni. And on Sunday afternoon, it took each phase stepping up at critical points to stop a comeback.

“We knew what situation they were in,” Ojomo said. “They were in a passing situation. And the key, at the end of the day, was Vic [Fangio] put us in a great call. Guys on the edge had both edges, the DBs were there, me and Jalen [Carter] executed greatly. And when you do things like that, I may be the beneficiary, Jalen may be the beneficiary. So, that’s the ultimate goal, and it’s a team sport. So, just great to have that play right there.”