Tackle-Box Disaster: David Moore’s 44-Yard TD Exposes Broken Eagles Defense
TAMPA, FL — Professional football games are usually decided by inches, but on Monday night, the Philadelphia Eagles gave up miles. Nothing symbolized the total collapse of the Eagles’ season more than David Moore’s 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Baker Mayfield fired a strike to Moore on a standard crossing pattern. What should have been a modest gain turned into a highlight-reel embarrassment for the Philadelphia secondary. Moore didn’t just run; he danced through a series of “look-at-me” tackle attempts. Five Eagles had a hand on Moore. None of them brought him to the turf. By the time Moore crossed the goal line, the 32-9 rout was effectively underway.
The @Lions were the only team to drop 50+ points in the regular season 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/PJwYioty5M
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2026
Five Missed Tackles, One Goal Line
The Eagles entered the playoffs with a defense in freefall, and the Moore touchdown was the smoking gun. From safety rotations to fundamental wrap-ups, the unit looked completely disconnected. Mayfield finished the night with 337 passing yards, and a staggering amount of that production came after the catch.
Tampa Bay’s coaching staff clearly saw blood in the water. They repeatedly tested Philadelphia’s ability to tackle in space, and the Eagles failed every single exam. The Buccaneers didn’t just outplay Philadelphia; they out-hustled them.
The “After The Catch” Damage
- David Moore: 1 Catch, 44 Yards, 1 TD
- Trey Palmer: 1 Catch, 56 Yards, 1 TD
- Bucs Total YAC: 212 Yards (Season high)
What They Said
“I just saw green grass and a lot of guys diving at my feet. In this offense, if you make one guy miss, you have a chance to go all the way. Tonight, we made a lot of guys miss.” — David Moore, Buccaneers WR
“Fundamental football. We didn’t do it. You can’t win in January if you can’t tackle. It’s that simple.” — Nick Sirianni, Eagles Head Coach
What This Means for Philly
The Eagles’ defensive identity is officially in the gutter. After a 10-1 start to the season, they finished the year losing six of their final seven games. This specific play—David Moore spinning away from half a defense—will likely be the “lowlight” that defines the end of the Nick Sirianni/Sean Desai/Matt Patricia defensive era in Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers move on to Detroit. If Baker Mayfield continues to find receivers who can turn short gains into explosive scores, the Lions’ secondary will have its hands full next Sunday.
