That’s just the business part of it. But together we’re going to get it fixed; all of us. It’s time to get a win. The final three misses came in garbage time when the Bucs were either killing clock or dropping TD passes.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, November 22, 2015, in Philadelphia. They have no quarterback of the future, an offensive line that is dying of neglect after having drafted only one offensive lineman in three years, and now, a defense that looks ready to send up the white flag, after allowing Tampa Bay to collect 521 yards of offense.
The victory put the Bucs (5-5) one game out of a possible wild-card berth, while the Eagles (4-6) fell a game behind the idle NY Giants in NFC East. “That is something we did not have but this coaching staff has instilled a culture that is helping us get to where we want to be”.
After the game, the beat reporters (and anyone else credentialed to be at Chip Kelly’s press conference) made Kelly’s job slightly easier for him, asking mostly soft-ball questions and not forcing the issue in terms of follow-up questions when Kelly ducked the few relevant questions asked.
Winston made his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year with a five-touchdown showing against a previously-heralded Eagles defense. “He was just playing football to me”. It was the first time Tampa Bay has won consecutive games since 2013 and the first time the squad reached. The Buccaneers also get that Week 13 matchup at home. I would not hear much more from the Eagles fans around me for the next three hours. They have a young franchise quarterback with a big arm, which will keep safeties from stacking the line of scrimmage. The Bucs passed for five touchdowns and forced four turnovers, including one they returned for a score.
What does the Eagles’ defense have to do to get better on third downs?
“This is definitely a dream come true for me to play here”, said Winston.
That is where the Eagles find themselves after losing two eminently winnable games at Lincoln Financial Field. A Week 15 draw with St. Louis could get a little messy, but otherwise, look at the green lights: Indianapolis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago.
Winston and the Buccaneers were outstanding on third downs, converting 9 of 12 while building a 35-14 lead.
Martin gashed the Eagles for runs of 58 and 84 yards in the first half, setting up Winston for short touchdown passes each time.
Meanwhile, Martin ran for 177 yards in the first half and the Bucs out-gained the Eagles 356-312 in the first half. Winston then tossed a 4-yard pass to Evans to tie it 7-7. He targeted seven different teammates for the afternoon, and no one saw more than seven passes in their direction (or caught more than one touchdown). Winston converted a fourth-and-inches with a handoff to Martin and with the Eagles zone blitzing, arched a throw over Byron Maxwell, who thought he had an interception, to Charles Sims.
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There’s no rest for the tired as far the Philadelphia Eagles are concerned this week, and that might not be such a bad thing. “If I get suspended, I’m going to come back even stronger”. The team plays Thursday at Detroit and will face a struggling Lions run game in its attempt at a bouncing back.
