Bold predictions for Eagles versus Buccaneers in Wild Card Round

Bold predictions for the Eagles defense in the Wild Card Round

Eagles’ defense forces two turnovers, an interception and a fumble recovery.

This is the game where it all comes together… hopefully. We’ve discussed the Eagles’ slow starts ad nauseam only to watch the same storyline unfold weekly. Everyone knows that will have to change in the playoffs. We believe that this is the game where it happens.

If Philly is going to win this, it feels like they’ll need an extra possession (or two). We’re calling for a pick and a fumble recovery by Philly’s defense to make that happen.

The Eagles’ defense holds Bucs to less than 300 yards en route to a 4th-quarter shutout.

We’re starting to believe. Philly’s defense has given us minimal reason to do so, but we believe anyway.

Jonathan Gannon‘s guys will come to play, and they won’t wait until they’re down 14 to do so… at least we hope that’s the case. So much for being bold huh?

In all seriousness, we’ve talked about the next step for this Eagles team for months. The defense must hold serve versus better quarterbacks, and here they’ll do just enough.

Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is a much-better play-caller than Gannon is, but some timely second-half stops and a ball-control offense by the Eagles in the final two quarters will spearhead a 4th-quarter shutout by an Eagles defense that holds Tampa to fewer than 300 total yards.