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Tom Brady and the champion Bucs, wide favorites against the Eagles

When it comes to beating Tom Brady there are no secrets. If you want to beat the GOAT, you have to push him, you have to capture him, you have to hit him. Otherwise, the legendary quarterback will find a way to hurt you for 60 minutes of football.

The front-7 of the Philadelphia Eagles has that complicated mission in the Wild Card this Sunday against Brady and the champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, favorites by 8 points at home.

With Brady behind the wheel, the Bucs’ prolific offense averaged 405.9 yards and 30.1 points per game in 2021. The offensive line, which includes three Pro Bowlers and only allowed 23 sacks, will have an interesting matchup against Javon Hargrave Y Josh Sweat, who combined for 15 quarterback sacks (7.5 apiece), giving the Eagles defense sixth in the NFL with 31 on the season.

Tampa Bay, however, comes into the game with some casualties on offense, particularly at wide receiver. At the end of the season, the Bucs lost Chris Godwin due to a knee injury; Mike Evans was slowed down with a problem in the biceps femoris and Cyril Grayson he’s out for this Sunday’s game.

In the playoffs, Brady could turn to an old friend.

El tight end Rob Gronkowski he finished the regular season with 55 receptions, 802 yards, six touchdowns and two straight 100-yard games. “Gronk” raises his game level when the Playoffs arrive, in which he adds 89 receptions, 1,273 yards and 14 touchdowns.

running eagles

When the Eagles have the ball, the Bucs defense will be focused on the dynamic quarterback. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia’s leader in passing yards (3,144) and rushing (784 and 10 touchdowns).

The Eagles’ offense will try to do what it did best all season: run the ball. Philadelphia enters the Wild Card as the best rushing offense in the NFL, averaging 159.1 yards per game.

Injuries have also hit the champions’ defense, which could have linebackers back for this game. Shaquil Barrett (knee) and Jason Pierre-Paul (knee, shoulder), who along with Lavonte David they’ll be busy with Hurts.

Philadelphia will miss running back Miles Sanders, who was unable to recover from a hand injury.

The Bucs won the three most recent regular-season matchups, but the teams haven’t met in the playoffs since the 2002 NFC Championship Game, which Tampa Bay won to advance to its first Super Bowl.

The Eagles eliminated the Bucs in 2000 and 2001, losses that cost coach Tony Dungy his job.

Philadelphia visits Tampa Bay in the postseason for the first time since 1979, when the Buccaneers won their first playoff game, 24-17.

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