NFL Wild Card Weekend predictions: How the experts see Buccaneers vs. Eagles

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Tampa Bay's best hope for getting through Wild Card Weekend may rest more on a vaunted run defense than on the arm of Tom Brady.

Brady, who won his seventh Super Bowl last season with the Buccaneers, will be counted on in a similar way to last season for a repeat performance. But the Bucs' opponent Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles, has something that few other opponents would've had this weekend: A really good run game.

The Eagles (9-8), who lost 28-22 to the Bucs in Week 6, have refashioned themselves behind the ground game. Philadelphia had the most rushing yards per game, 159.2, in 2021 despite not having a 1,000-yard running back. The workload has been split among quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Eagles' top rusher at 784 yards, and running backs Miles Sanders (754 yards; limited due to injury), Boston Scott (373 yards), Jordan Howard (406 yards; also limited) and Kenneth Gainwell (291 yards).

The Bucs (13-4) have the NFL's third-best rushing defense, allowing 92.5 yards a game. But Tampa Bay may be tested, as the Bucs have allowed several 100-yard games late in the season. Still, it's a tough group, led by nose tackle Vita Vea, surrounded by ends Ndamukong Suh and William Gholston, and linebacker Devon White.

Watch the game: How to watch Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Philadelphia Eagles NFC playoff game on television, live stream

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Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Bucs, 27-17

The Eagles' issues in stopping the run and handling tight ends and bigger wideouts don't bode well against Tom Brady's backs and receiving targets. Brady led the Bucs over a weak NFC East team to open last year's playoffs. He got more locked in, adjusting to no Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown in Week 18 and should also get rushing and defensive reinforcements to better support him this week.

Maurice Moton, Bleacher Report: Bucs, 26-17

Quarterback Tom Brady won't have a bevy of weapons to carve up the Eagles defense, but he still has three-time Pro Bowl wideout Mike Evans and tight end Rob Gronkowski, which is enough to beat a pass defense that's allowed 28 touchdowns (ranked 21st) this season.

Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports: Bucs, 30-21

Tampa Bay should have running back Leonard Fournette and Lavonte David for this game, along with Shaq Barrett, who was activated off of the reserve/COVID-19 list this week. The Eagles were able to keep their Week 6 loss to the Bucs within a score, but it was a dominating effort by Tampa Bay, who almost doubled Philly in yards and time of possession. The weather could play a role as rain and wind are forecast for this game, but I don't think that will impact Brady much in the passing game.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Bucs, 27-17

The Bucs are getting back enough healthy players to advance. Whether they can advance again is an issue for next week.

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Bucs, 31-23

The Buccaneers begin the defense of their Super Bowl title on a roll, having won seven of their final eight games. The Eagles were on a roll, too ... until they gave up 51 to the Cowboys in the season finale. Tom Brady can’t win another Super Bowl, can he?

Gregg Rosenthal, NFL.com: Bucs, 27-23

I like the Eagles to keep it close because of Jalen Hurts and their running game. That famous Bucs run defense has been living on reputation rather than results for a while. Tampa's 16th in rush defense EPA since Week 9, a stretch in which Philly has fielded one of the league's most dynamic ground games. This could be a seven-possession game for each team, and I don’t see the Bucs getting a lot of quick stops, so it won't surprise me if Tom Brady is required to pull off some fourth-quarter magic like he did in Super Wild Card Weekend a year ago.

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Bucs, 31-21

The Eagles have been impressive with Jalen Hurts, but this is a large ask on the road. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers have put the drama around Antonio Brown's release in the rear-view mirror. Tampa Bay will have to generate a running game to keep the Eagles' defense honest, but Brady will connect with Rob Gronkowski for a pair of TDs. Chances are that the tandem remembers Super Bowl LII.

Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: Bucs, 20-17

I see the Eagles running the ball a lot and trying to play keep-away from Tom Brady. That will result in a close game, but ultimately a Buccaneers victory.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Bucs, 26-20

The Bucs beat the Eagles, 28-22, in Week 6 on a Thursday night. The Eagles were struggling at the time, especially running the football. But it was after that game that their run game took off when they made a commitment to it, resulting in them leading the league in rushing. That will be the key here, but the Bucs are good against the run. Tampa Bay did give up 109 rushing yards per game in the last three, well over their season average of 92.5. The Eagles didn't sack Tom Brady in the last meeting, so they have to be better in that area. I think the combination of Brady missing two of his top passing targets in Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown the rest of the way will slow them down some. That, coupled with the Eagles running it, will keep this close.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: NFL Wild Card weekend predictions: Experts pick Buccaneers vs. Eagles