How To Beat The Eagles? That’s A Puzzle Todd Bowles Hasn’t Solved
January 11th, 2024
Has Todd Bowles up at night.
Well, it’s not like he hasn’t beaten Jalen Hurts and the Eagles.
Bucs coach Todd Bowles spoke today about the Bucs’ playoff opponent come Monday night, the Eagles. Bowles seemed to have fun pretending he didn’t know how to solve the puzzle that is Philadelphia.
“I’ll let you know after the game,” Bowles said when asked if if forcing turnovers and stopping the run can end the Eagles’ season. “I don’t know how you beat them yet because we haven’t beaten them this year.”
That’s not to say Bowles doesn’t know how to beat the Eagles. In 2021 the Bucs did a number on the Eagles twice — once in Week 6 (28-22) and again in the wild card round that season, when the Bucs stomped the Eagles 31-15. As it turned out, that was Bucco Bruce Arians’ final win and Tom Brady’s final postseason win.
This year, the Bucs got stomped by the Eagles in Week 3, 25-11. While the Eagles looked dominant, they have been in a freefall losing five of their last six. Philadelphia media is screaming for a new coaching staff calling the Eagles quitters, among other things.
In Bowles’ mind, he’s playing the Eagles that beat up the Bucs in Week 3, not the Eagles team that has the City of Brotherly Love currently unhinged.
“We’ve got to be ready for everything,” Bowles said. “They can run it and they can throw it. They’ve got a great offensive line, they’ve got great [wide] receivers and they’ve got very good running backs and the quarterback is playing great. We’ve got to prepare for everything.”
Well, Hurts isn’t playing great. The Eagles have only thrown over 185 yards in a game once in the past four games. People claim Hurts is a good running quarterback, but he’s only run for more than 37 yards once in the past four games.
So if you can’t run and you can’t pass, what are you? That’s not what Joe calls “great.”
Still, Bowles talks up Hurts like he’s Justin Fields or Lamar Jackson.
“It’s the passing runs that kill you when you rush four,” Bowles said. “He’s so athletic, he gets outside the pocket anyway when you have four [and] you try to rush him normally.
“When you send five and [he] makes somebody miss, he gets up through the hole – that’s going to be a real concentration point, because I don’t see anybody that’s really stopped it.”
Look, the Eagles are struggling, Hurts in particular. And he also has a mangled finger on his throwing hand.
The way Bowles’ run defense is playing, Joe isn’t worried about Hurts hurting the Bucs with his feet. It’s Hurts against the league’s nearly worst pass defense (the Bucs’) that concerns Joe.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:05 pm
If we play Bowels/Dungy ball, we lose. Start and stay aggressive on both sides of the ball. You’ve got nothing to lose except your job.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:13 pm
Score more points
January 11th, 2024 at 4:18 pm
“the leagues worst pass defense”… has actually only allowed 23 passing touchdowns this season, which is tied for 12th (with 3 other teams).
They do give up a lot of yards though. I wonder if anyone has told them they’re allowed to press receivers instead of giving them 15 yard cushions?
The less cover-3 and zone we play, the better…
January 11th, 2024 at 4:19 pm
*tied for 12th best ^
January 11th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Didn’t Bucs bear them twice in 2021?
January 11th, 2024 at 4:28 pm
Yup. Destroyed them in the playoffs.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Stubborn Todd is fixated on “Student body left n right”, then punt. No creativity, no taking chances, no aggressiveness, n no regards to push the ball down the field quick and early with two Pro Bowl wrs. That would be the end of his career in Tampa. Do your home work Bowles, you’re on the hot seat! With back to back playoff losses to the Eagles in 2000 and 2001 and scoring a total of only 12 points in both games is what lead to the firing of Tony Dungy. You scored only 9 points n no tds against the worst team in the nfl last week. If Bowles come out passive n conservative against a team who will be creative n aggressive, we will get crushed.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Stubborn Bowles is going to be gone on Tuesday if he thinks he can run against Philly. In today’s press conference he made a comment about running better… geez.
January 11th, 2024 at 4:55 pm
3 KEYS TO VICTORY …
1. Run up the middle on every first down
2. Feature Otton (over Godwin) in the passing game
3. Play zone defense
Works 9 out of 17 times!
January 11th, 2024 at 5:06 pm
Bowles/Dungy ball? Lol
Two defensive minded guys that never won a playoff game here!
Keys to winning?
Same as always
1) pass block, give your QB time.
2) run block, get your run game going!
3) pass rush.
Well, damn. We cant, havent, and wont be able to doaby of those 3 things!!
Guess we count on Mayfield, and hope for the best.
Like we’ve done all year.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:14 pm
They are going to run right an Kancey. He has the second worse run def ranking in the league. Hopefully the LBs will clean that up or else we are in for a long day.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:17 pm
@Capt.Tim
Two in a row with wrong facts. Dungy won a playoff game in 97 & 99. Stop looking foolish with your takes
January 11th, 2024 at 5:22 pm
Joe says –
So if you can’t run and you can’t pass, what are you? That’s not what Joe calls “great.”
Did Joe not watch the last game vs the stinking Panthers?
We can’t run or pass. That’s what most people call pathetic.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:28 pm
That’s right 74 Bucs fan.
January 11th, 2024 at 5:58 pm
So, I forgot.
His last 3 playoff appearence with the Bucs, we didnt score a touchdown.
He got fired after his last playoff loss. 31-9 to Philly. A team wth Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Ronde Rarber.
A lot of Hall of famers.
Tiny is a great man. Great at changing the teams attitude. Great defensive coach.
Great Head Coach? Nope.
Easy to forget the 2 wins, when you strangle the team into losing.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Tony*
January 11th, 2024 at 6:47 pm
The way to win is to win.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:49 pm
We have to keep it close in to the 4th qtr and then some players have to make some plays.
January 11th, 2024 at 6:55 pm
The Gaints gave the league the blueprint to attack Hurtz and that is to blitz him
January 11th, 2024 at 7:25 pm
Pick 6 by Winfield to close em out.
January 11th, 2024 at 7:55 pm
There will be thunderstorms. The team that can run will win. That’s not the Yucs.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:43 pm
Even Ray Charles knows how to beat the Eagles. Plenty of tape from their last 6 losses. Todd just wants to do what he wants to do. Indirectly he must enjoy losing. He’s proven to be good at it and does it regularly.
Enjoy your next career Todd. Hope you can run it and take care of the ball in that one too.
January 11th, 2024 at 8:44 pm
Supposed to rain all of Monday into the night. This could be a very sloppy game. Philly has 4 good running backs so the Defense better be ready this time to stop the run. Hope the Bucs are practicing with wet footballs and the longer rain cleat shoes.
January 12th, 2024 at 5:15 am
Geez
Yeah he is gonna tell the world that he has the secret!
Come on man!
Go Bucs!
January 12th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Bowles sounds like a realist in those comments. Weather prediction so far: wet and stormy. Bucs practice in it. I bet Bucs have played Philly so many times in the playoffs, Iggles might as well be a Division foe. Be that as it may. Go Bucs!!
January 12th, 2024 at 9:39 am
You never know with cold front related weather. The fronts can sometimes move faster and push the rain earlier or they can linger and rain for hours.
At this point you really have to waiting until Sunday for a better idea of when and how heavy the rain will be. If its really wet out there Hurts will have more issues throwing a wet ball with a finger that isn’t 100% pain free.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:31 pm
The stinking Panthers had the number 2 defense in the NFL this year ! And we played them at their field. Panthers had one of the best Dlines in the NFL, but all you people see are the three field goals ! I see a team that was playing to knock us out of the playoffs 🤔 👀. I also see a division title and a winning record. Stop complaining about what YOU think our Bucs should have done ✔️
That’s like saying ” I should have played different Power Ball numbers and I’d be a multi millionaire ”
Go Bucs and go real Bucs fans
January 13th, 2024 at 10:46 pm
Look how many years so many great REGULAR season teams have gone into the playoffs and choked !!?? The AINTS with Drew Brees, Packers with Aaron “Crybaby ” Rodgers , Cowboys with Dak “The choked artist ” Prescott, etc… We strapped on the duct tape and won the division for the 3rd year, coming off a Super Bowl win 🏆. But all you people will do is complain about it. Fairweather, fake fans that have no right to talk about the Bucs ! You are why the rest of the NFL calls us the worst fans in football. You sell your tickets to the opposing teams fans, you don’t yell with the defense on the field until the opponent breaks the huddle , your supposed to get loud the entire time so they can’t hear the play call. I can go on and on. But here’s to you , 😘 the fans that pretend they know what they’re talking about !