There’s a particular flavor of dread known only to Philadelphia sports fans. It’s the feeling of a scouting report sounding a little too much like a eulogy for your own team’s chances. This week, that feeling is creeping in from the Florida heat. The Eagles are sailing into undefeated territory, but a ghost from last season's schedule lurks in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now, the man in charge of slaying that ghost just paid the opponent a massive compliment.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio addressed the media. When asked about the Buccaneers' offense, he didn’t just offer the usual coach-speak. He issued a stunningly frank assessment.
“I’ve always liked Mayfield,” Fangio stated. “Why these teams that had him didn’t keep him, I don’t know. But GMs make mistakes, just like coaches do.” It was a full-throated endorsement of the quarterback who dismantled his defense just a year ago. And it’s a comment that lands with the subtlety of a thunderclap for Eagles fans.
This praise is especially nerve-wracking when you look at the numbers. Baker Mayfield is playing the best football of his career in 2025. He is 3-0 and has yet to throw an interception, a stark contrast to his league-leading 16 picks last season. Fangio knows the challenge and admits it: "The quarterback is playing really good. He’s a scrambler. He scrambled, I think, 11 times this year for close to 120 yards already, so that’s always an issue."
Baker has been the definition of clutch, engineering three consecutive game-winning drives. Meanwhile, Fangio’s defense has forced a turnover in every game this season. So, something has to give this Sunday. Besides, the historical context makes Fangio’s comments even more eyebrow-raising.
Eagles vs. Buccaneers: Heat, History, and a High-Stakes Showdown
Last October, Mayfield carved up the Eagles in a 33-16 Buccaneers win. He had a career-quick time to throw, exploiting soft coverage. When asked about last year's struggle, Fangio's response was almost too simple. “We just didn’t play good, and they did, and they took it to us.” His final, light-hearted comment on the game?
Fangio was asked about the tackling issue they faced last year against the Bucs. "Early on, how do you feel like it’s been so far this season to tackle?" The reporter asked. “It hasn’t been terrible. I thought we were very good in the second game. Can’t remember the first game now. I move on,” Fangio said. However, Eagles fans certainly haven’t forgotten that defensive collapse.
Compounding the concern is the Eagles’ own travel adjustment. The team is flying to Tampa a day early to acclimate to the oppressive Florida heat and humidity. It’s a smart move, but it underscores the challenge. The Buccaneers are 4-1 in their last five against Philadelphia. And they're ready to use their home-field climate as a real weapon. So, this isn’t just another game.
It’s a potential NFC Championship preview where every advantage matters. So, what does Fangio’s verdict truly mean? Is it respectful gamesmanship or a tell-tale sign of concern?
Well, Fangio's defense must find a way to disrupt Mayfield’s rhythm and force him into the mistakes he has so expertly avoided. The Eagles’ early arrival shows they are leaving nothing to chance. But their coordinator’s public admiration for the opposing quarterback adds an unexpected layer of intrigue. This Sunday, we’ll see if Fangio’s praise was a premonition or just a clever misdirection.
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Mayfield’s playing like a man reborn. Fangio’s talking like a man unbothered. But the truth is, this game means everything. It’s about proving the Eagles aren’t the same team that folded last year. If they can’t stop Mayfield this time, the ghosts of Tampa won’t just haunt them—they’ll move in.