The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gotten off to a 3-0 start, the first time they've done so since 2005. A 4-0 start is on the line this weekend when they host the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who are also 3-0 and trying to get to 4-0.
While the Bucs are betting underdogs despite being the home team, there is something working in their favor in this massive game. Jason Kelce brought this potential advantage to light during his latest appearance on 94 WIP. Kelce was asked about playing in the heat and didn't mince words when giving his response.
"As a player I would always downplay it, but now that I am not a player I'll be brutally honest—playing in the heat sucks. I would much rather play in the dead of cold, snow, 20 degrees."
Why is the weather being brought up here? Well, because according to the Weather Channel, the forecasted high in Tampa on Sunday is 91 degrees with 69% humidity. To make things even more intriguing, the forecast has a 30% chance of rain sprinkled in as well.
Steamy weather could be a massive advantage for Bucs in Week 4
Hearing Kelce, a guy who spent the entirety of his 13-year NFL career in Philadelphia, a colder-weather city, admit that playing in the heat "sucks" definitely paints a picture here. If Kelce thinks it, there's a good chance that a lot of guys on the current Eagles roster feel the same way. Unfortunately for them, it's going to be a scorcher in Tampa on Sunday and they're going to have to learn how to deal with it.
Hopefully, the Buccaneers use this to their advantage even more so by wearing their white road uniforms, which would force the Eagles to wear their dark green home uniforms. That's going to make them feel the effects of the heat even more since darker clothing absorbs heat more than lighter clothing.
The rain throws another added wrinkle into the equation because it can be harder to throw the ball in that instance. This, unfortunately, would allow Saquon Barkley to be given even more responsibility for the Eagles offense and Jalen Hurts would be taking off with the football even more. Even still, the rain with the heat still gives Tampa a huge advantage here overall and the Eagles will hopefully feel the effects of playing in weather they're not comfortable in.
To put it bluntly, the Bucs have owned the Eagles during this current regime of Philly football. They whopped them last year to the tune of a 33-16 final and curb-stomped them in the playoffs eight months prior to that, ending their 2023 season and Jason Kelce's career.
The Bucs don't necessarily need an added factor against these Eagles given their recent track record against them but by golly, if the weather wants to be hot, steamy, and rainy, therefore making things even more difficult for Philly, so be it. Bring on the humidity!