Eagles coach says team has to 'make some changes' after dismal start in loss to Bucs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — After Jalen Hurts and the Eagles fell behind by 24 points and didn't cross midfield until the second quarter following a dismal start Sunday, coach Nick Sirianni said Philadelphia has to “make some changes.”

The Eagles were held without an offensive yard for more than a quarter of their 33-16 loss to Tampa Bay in the first matchup between the teams since the Buccaneers' one-sided playoff win last season.

“We got to make some changes as far as what is going fundamentally,” Sirianni said.

Tampa Bay ended Philadelphia’s season for the second time in three years last January. Hurts is 1-4 against Tampa Bay, the lone victory coming in Week 3 of last season.

“I just have to play better,” Hurts said, “Production. Taking care of the ball. Just the efficiency.”

Tom Brady beat Hurts in the regular season and playoffs in 2021, and a 32-9 playoff loss to Baker Mayfield capped a stunning 2023 collapse that saw Philadelphia lose six of seven games after a 10-1 start.

The Eagles were coming off a 15-12 win at New Orleans. The Bucs, on the other hand, had a frustrating 26-7 home loss to Denver.

Most of the first half saw the Eagles completely misfire on offense, miss tackles, and block a Bucs’ defender into their punt returner that resulted in a muff which Tampa Bay recovered.

Philadelphia trailed 24-0 midway through the second quarter and had been outgained 254-0 over the stretch.

“No excuses for that,” Sirianni said. “We didn't coach well enough. We didn't play well enough.”

Tampa Bay ran 22 plays in Eagles territory before the Philadelphia offense crossed the 50-yard line in the second quarter.

Hurts threw a touchdown pass to Parris Campbell late in the second and added a one-yard TD run on the opening possession of the third to make it 24-14.

Down 30-16 late in the third, Hurts moved the Eagles to the Bucs 19 before linebacker Lavonte David sacked him, and forced a key fumble.

Hurts finished 18 of 30 for 150 yards and no interceptions. He was sacked six times

Saquon Barkley rushed for 94 yards on 10 carries. He had a 59-day dash on the Eagles' first play in the second half.

The Eagles’ receiver corps remained short-handed with A.J. Brown’s missing his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion a week ago against New Orleans and was also out. Britain Covey was placed on injured reserve this week with a shoulder injury.

Pro Bowl tackle Lane Johnson sat out with a concussion.

“We got to get everybody healthy,” Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert said. “We got to get people out there. But we've got to make sure all locked in and focused on the details. We've got to focus on little things.”

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Mark Didtler, The Associated Press