Eagles-Buccaneers: What we learned
TAMPA, Fla. -- Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly said his up-tempo offense wouldn't change whether backup Nick Foles or starter Michael Vick were playing quarterback.
But after Foles, starting for an injured Vick, delivered an impressive performance in Sunday's 31-20 win over the Buccaneers, it opened the door for potential questions whether Philadelphia will make a switch at the position.
Foles completed 22 of 31 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a score in his seventh career start.
Foles helped seal the game with a 36-yard touchdown strike to DeSean Jackson that put the Eagles up eight points with under 10 minutes left.
"I thought Nick did a really good job," Kelly said. "I was really, really happy with how he played."
Kelly stopped short of committing to Vick as the team's starter when he's healthy. Vick was active for the game as an emergency quarterback.
"We'll re-evaluate everything and see where we are, see where Mike is," Kelly said. "I don't give any hypotheticals and don't make any predictions."
Foles' only two career wins have come against Tampa Bay, having thrown for a career-high 381 yards in a 23-21 victory in Tampa on Dec. 9, 2012.
The Buccaneers (0-6) received a strong outing by rookie quarterback Mike Glennon but were unable to get their first win of the season.
It took Philadelphia (3-3) just over three minutes to score on their opening drive, with Foles going 4-for-5 for 70 yards before scrambling for a 4-yard touchdown that made it 7-0.
The Eagles set the tone on their first play with running back LeSean McCoy taking a screen pass and racing 45 yards into Tampa Bay territory.
"I thought it was really big for us, especially playing against a team like this team," Kelly said. "We wanted to get on them early, so that drive was huge for us."
The Buccaneers appeared to tie the score five minutes into the first quarter when cornerback Darrelle Revis flipped McCoy, forcing a fumble and returning it 39 yards for a touchdown. But after the play was reviewed, Revis was ruled down by contact at the Philadelphia 40-yard line. The Bucs had to settle for a 38-yard field goal by Rian Lindell, cutting the Eagles' lead to 7-3.
Glennon, making his second career start, didn't have one of his top weapons, with receiver Mike Williams sidelined by a hamstring injury. But Glennon was solid, finishing 26 of 43 for 273 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
"I felt more comfortable," Glennon said. "It kind of reminded me of college, when I made a jump from the first game to the second game; you're going to continue to grow."
Glennon threw the first of two touchdown passes just over a minute into the second quarter, a 24-yarder to Vincent Jackson that gave the Bucs a 10-7 lead.
But the Eagles answered midway through the second quarter. Jackson beat Revis on a crossing route in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia a 14-10 lead.
"I don't know if he was depending on a safety to be there or not, but whatever the case may be, he still has a job to do, which is not letting me score, and I scored," Jackson said of Revis.
The Buccaneerss responded before the half, with Glennon orchestrating an impressive 75-yard drive, including a 16-yard-scramble on a third-and-14, that ended with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jackson.
Glennon threw an interception on the Buccaneers' first drive in the third quarter and the Eagles cashed in. Receiver Riley Cooper caught a 47-yard touchdown pass to put Philadelphia up 21-17 just over three minutes into the quarter.
Cooper racked up a career-high 120 yards and a touchdown, saying it meant a lot to do it with many family and friends from the area in the stands. He planned to give the ball from his touchdown to his mom.
"It's cool to come back and actually play a good game," Cooper said.
What the Buccaneers said
"We keep falling short. We aren't catching any breaks. We've got to fight until the end. It really just (stinks) right now. I feel like we've let a lot of people down. I can't even pinpoint what it is. It's just hard." -- Left tackle Donald Penn.
What the Eagles said
"He's the x-factor. I think nobody pays attention to Riley and the thing is, the guys in the locker room know how good he really is. I think he surprised a lot of guys in the league today, but he didn't surprise us." -- Running back LeSean McCoy on wide receiver Riley Cooper
What we learned about the Buccaneers
1. Quarterback Mike Glennon is improving. Glennon, making his second career NFL start, played better than his debut. Glennon finished 26 for 43 for 273 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. He made some key third down throws, even scrambled 16 yards for a first down. He looked more confident and poised in the pocket, and led the Bucs to a season-high 20 points.
2. The Bucs are susceptible to big plays. In the first four games, the Bucs' defense allowed just one pass play longer than 31 yards. On Sunday, the defense allowed four (three in the second half) against the Eagles.
What we learned about the Eagles
1. Quarterback Nick Foles is capable. Foles, making his seventh NFL start, was impressive in filling in for injured Michael Vick (hamstring). He threw for three touchdowns, and ran for another, in picking up his second career win (both against Tampa Bay). Coach Chip Kelly said the Eagles' up-tempo offense wouldn't change whether it was Foles or Vick, and it was certainly productive Sunday. Kelly stopped short of committing to Vick being the starter when he's healthy. Either way, looks like the Eagles have two solid options.
2. Everyone knows that wide receiver DeSean Jackson is one of the league's most dangerous playmakers. Everyone knows that running back LeSean McCoy can beat you in many ways. But if wide receiver Riley Cooper can emerge like he did on Sunday, with four catches and career-high 120 yards, it adds another dimension to the Eagles' offense.
