Although it was ultimately a one-score game, Brady parlayed ample time to throw into a dominant first half that foretold the outcome early the game wasn’t as close as the scoreboard indicated. He went with the latter, though one more score could’ve easily been tacked on - the Bucs kneeled out the final two minutes inside the Eagles 10-yard line. On a night when the future Hall of Famer was his usual unstoppable self (34 of 42, 297 yards), there was hardly a shred of doubt that he’d either drive the field for a put-away score or move the chains well enough for the clock to bleed out. How safe can a six-point lead be with 5:54 left in an NFL game? No safer than in Brady’s hands. Throw in 46 receiving yards, and it was a stellar overall night for the big man in the Bucs backfield. He can’t make anyone miss, but when Fournette’s offensive line gets enough push for him to play downhill, his power is effective. Fournette (22 carries for 81 yards, two touchdowns) did most of his damage up the middle, breaking a 20-yarder through the A-gap early in the second half, and bulled his way to a pair of touchdowns. The game plan apparently sought to establish him on first downs - he consistently set Brady up with manageable second downs and took handoffs to begin three of Tampa Bay’s first four possessions. Leonard Fournette was a big part of the Buccaneers’ offensive success for the third week in a row. ![]() They ended up more than doubling the Bucs’ average allowance of ground yards (45) with 100, split roughly evenly between Hurts and Sanders. On a positively dismal passing night for Hurts (12 of 26, 115 yards), running the ball seemed like a last resort for the Eagles. Miles Sanders ripped off runs of 23 and 14 yards on consecutive plays, and QB Jalen Hurts capped the drive with a 2-yard score. In the second half, however, it was the running game that pulled Philadelphia within six points at 28-22. Against the Bucs’ vaunted run defense, the Eagles didn’t bother trying to establish a rushing attack in the first half. If there’s any justice, only the Eagles defense will get Friday off after the short week. The final tally on TOP was positively brutal (39:56- 20:04), as was the Buccaneers’ first-down advantage (27-16). ![]() Who could blame any defense for being gassed after being forced to defend a Tom Brady offense for 21:05 of the first 30 minutes? The Eagles offense sputtered through five three-and-out possessions in the first half, leaving Philly defenders with barely enough time to re-tie their cleats on the sideline before being asked to take the field again. If you’re in the time-of-possession-is-overrated camp, the Eagles defense doesn’t want to hear it. READ: Fournette: 'Sky's the limit for me' in Bucs offense.READ: Hurts on struggling offense: 'I have to be better'.READ: Thumb no problem for Tom Brady in win.
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