6 winners (and 2 losers) from Buccaneers blowout win over Eagles

It's safe to say that this Sunday was a lot more fun than what fans had to endure a week ago against the Broncos.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers answered the bell and came out looking like the team we all thought they were, and successfully washed the sour tase of last week's loss out of everyone's mouth. It was a 33-16 blowout win over the Philadelphia Eagles that did the trick, as everything seemed to go right for the Bucs the entire afternoon.

For the first time since 2022, the Bucs scored an opening drive touchdown and never took their foot off the gas. In face, Tampa Bay scored on its first five offensive possessions and didn't end up punting until the near end of the second quarter.

It was total domination, and the perfect way to begin what is a gauntlet of games that will help tell us who this team really is. So far, if they play anything like the did on Sunday, it's going to be a fun season in Tampa Bay.

6 winners (and 2 losers) from Buccaneers blowout win over Eagles

Winner: Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield took last week's loss on the chin, stepping up in front of everyone and taking blame for what went wrong. It wasn't all his fault, but it was the type of leadership that keeps a team from letting a bad loss spiral into a few more.

We saw the payoff on Sunday. Baker and the Bucs scored an opening drive touchdown for the first time since 2022, when the guy up in the announcer booth was under center. Tom Brady might have fired back hard at Baker's comments from earlier this week, but he was waxing poetic about how great he and the offense looked the entire game.

Mayfield carved up the Eagles' defense for 347 yards and three total touchdowns. It was clinical and the total opposite of what we saw against Denver. Part of that is gameplanning but the other part is Baker never wavering and showing the type of leadership he did after a loss to help set up the performance we saw on Sunday against Philly.

Loser: Jake Camarda

Things have gone from bad to worse in a hurry for Jake Camarda. He has struggled mightily this season, going back to the preseason when things got so bad that the Bucs considered carrying another punter on the active roster.

They didn't ultimately do that, but what the team has seen out of Camarda over the first three games has resulted in him getting benched. Tampa Bay called up Trenton Gill to be the team's punter in Week 4 and now the question needs to be asked about what the future holds for Camarda.

We all know how good he can be when he's on his game, but he's been off for a while. It's still way too early for the Bucs to cut bait, and he'll likely play next week, but the ice is getting thinner for a guy who just a year ago was one of the most important players on the team.

Loser: Anthony Nelson

Last week Anthony Nelson got juked into another dimension by Jaleel McLaughlin on one of many touchdowns for the Denver Broncos. This week things didn't go much better, even though the defense managed to play a much better game.

Nelson was on special teams for an extra point following Bucky Irving's first touchdown of his career. He either missed a block or couldn't get off the edge fast enough to stop Kelee Ringo from blocking the kick.

If that wasn't bad enough, Isaiah Rodgers scooped it up an scored a rare reverse two point conversion for the Eagles.

Winner: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin

Baker Mayfield sent the first pass of the game went to MIke Evans, and he'd end up sending seven more his way before the day was over. Evans finished with 94 yards and a touchdown, turning in another gem of a game and proving just how important he is to the offense's success.

Evans' big day was an excellent example of what happens when he and Chris Godwin get cooking. They combined for 163 yards, which powered the offense early but also allowed the run game to start opening up.

It was a vintage performance by them both, but was particularly special for Evans. He became the Buccaneers' all-time leading scorer, passing Martin Gramatica, further solidifying his case for one day making it into the Hall of Fame.

Winner: Bucky Irving

One of the most exciting revelations through the first four games of the season has been the play of rookie Bucky Irving.

He's quickly gone from someone who would be a nice complementary back to Rachaad White to flat out challenging him for the role of RB1. White has always been more of an Alvin Kamara hybrid back, but Irving has done more than just come in and add to the backfield, he's started to become the best player in it.

Irving finished the game as the team's leading rusher, and it should be said that he split carries evenly with White. Both backs finished with 10 carries and exactly 49 yards each, but it was how electric Irving looked with the ball that continues to be most Bucs' fans favorite thing about the season so far.

Winner: Sterling Shepard

For the first time all season, Sterling Shepard suited up and saw action. He was elevated from the practice squad after Jalen McMillan was ruled inactive and he made the most of his time on Sunday.

Sterling was brought in to add some depth at receiver this offseason, but his connection with Baker Mayfield goes back to their days together at Oklahoma. That was something we saw on display against the Eagles, as Mayfield found his old teammate three times for 51 yards.

He has struggled to stay healthy over the course of his career, but we saw Baker and the Bucs tap into what made Shepard special and it's hopefully a taste of things to come.

Winner: Lavonte David

Future Hall of Famer should be a mandatory way of introducing Lavonte David. He's been a pillar of the Bucs foundation every since he arrived and has endlessly paid off the team's belief in him.

Sunday was just another example of how David is still operating at a high level and remain a game changing player son defense. Twice he helped kill drives that likely would have ended in scores for the Eagles and both times he broke his opponent in ways that ended up impacting the final score.

The most significant play, not only by David but perhaps of the game, was a strip sack in the third quarter. With the Eagles driving and starting to find a groove on offense, David blew through the offensive line and knocked the ball out of Jalen Hurts' hand.

He was also in on a sack in the fourth quarter that helped push the Eagles out of field goal range and forced them to punt the ball away without any points. It helped keep Philly down, zapped their momentum and is even more proof that Future Hall of Famer Lavonte David remains a key piece of the Bucs defense.

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