Eagles versus Buccaneers: 5 matchups that will decide Monday Night Football

The coming Eagles versus Buccaneers tussle on Monday Night Football is loaded with storylines.

Everyone views NFL games differently. Players and coaches view it as an occupation. Die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fans view them as part of their reason for existing, Casual fans see them as entertainment.

Those of us who are paid to cover this team share all of those traits, but we're also always searching for an angle and the best way to tell stories. Leading up to kickoff, we obsess over matchups.

As is always the case with any NFL game, the Eagles versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers clash will be decided by a handful of individual 'games within the game'. The team that wins the majority will ultimately come out on top.

Here are a few battles that we'll be watching.

Vita Vea (if he plays), Logan Hall, and William Gholston versus the interior of the Eagles offensive line

In order to appropriately describe Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea's brilliance, one needs to begin adding words to the English language. We have truly exhausted every superlative.

He is a six-foot-four, 347-pound nose tackle, one that will harass Jason Kelce and the interior of Philly's offensive line all day, if he plays that is. He's questionable for Monday night's game.

He's more than a space-eater. He's stout versus the run and can create pressure as a pass rusher. So far in 2023, he has tallied seven total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles that have resulted in a loss of yardage.

Obviously, Philly's chances of winning increase if he isn't on the field, but the Bucs have other talented pieces along their defensive line, Logan Hall and William Gholston for instance. Keep an eye on those two as you watch Monday Night Football. Place an asterisk by Vea's name. We'll see if he plays. Keep an eye on a few other matchups as well.