Mayfield Masterclass: Bucs Shred Eagles in 32-9 Wild Card Blowout
Baker Mayfield, playing through rib and ankle injuries, looked like the most poised player on the field. He picked apart a confused Philadelphia secondary, finishing with 337 yards and three scores. The knockout blow came in the third quarter when Mayfield found Trey Palmer on a screen. Palmer didn’t just run; he sliced through three missed tackles on his way to a 56-yard house call that sent Raymond James Stadium into a frenzy.
guy is a legend 😂
GBvsCHI– Saturday 8pm ET on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dKb6ViSffk— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2026
Philadelphia’s Defensive Identity Crisis
The story of the game wasn’t just Tampa Bay’s efficiency—it was Philadelphia’s inability to tackle. On the Palmer touchdown, the Eagles had multiple defenders with angles, yet the rookie wideout outran them all. It was a recurring theme. The Buccaneers consistently turned five-yard check-downs into double-digit gains.
Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense were equally stagnant. Without A.J. Brown, the vertical threat vanished. Tampa Bay’s blitz-heavy scheme forced Hurts into quick decisions he wasn’t ready to make. The Eagles finished 0-for-9 on third down and failed to convert their only fourth-down attempt.
Box Score: Wild Card Weekend
- TB Passing: Baker Mayfield: 22/36, 337 Yds, 3 TD
- PHI Passing: Jalen Hurts: 25/35, 250 Yds, 1 TD
- Total Yards: Buccaneers 426, Eagles 276
- Key Stat: PHI Third Down Efficiency: 0%
What They Said
“We were the underdogs all year. We knew what we had in this locker room. We just wanted an opportunity to show we belong, and tonight we did that.” — Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers QB
“We didn’t coach well enough and we didn’t play well enough. It’s my job to make sure we are ready, and tonight we weren’t.” — Nick Sirianni, Eagles Head Coach
What’s Next: Detroit Awaits
The Buccaneers now head to the Motor City for a date with the Detroit Lions. While many dismissed Tampa Bay as “division winners by default,” their clinical dismantling of Philadelphia suggests they are a live threat in the NFC. For the Eagles, the offseason begins with massive questions regarding the coaching staff and a defensive unit that looked completely broken in the final month of play.
