The 2022 NFL Playoffs continue Sunday, January 16, with the NFC wild-card showdown at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, so we have prepared the best Eagles vs. Buccaneers betting pick and odds.
Phila meets Tampa Bay for the second time this season. Back in Week 6, the reigning champs outlasted the Eagles 28-22 as 7-point road favorites. The Bucs are firm 9-point favorites for this playoff clash, while the totals sit at 46.0 points.
It’s almost unfair to the rest of the league for the Bucs to have Tom Brady playing the way he has been this season. Throwing for a career high 5,316 yards on the way to setting the Bucs single season touchdown record of 43. Brady’s looked sharp, poised and accurate. Despite losing Chris Godwin for the season with an MCL tear the Bucs offence rolls into the postseason ranked 2nd in total yards and points scored. Behind only Dak Prescott and the Cowboys.
The Bucs carry a strong home field advantage into this match up going 7-1 this season at home. Leading rusher Leonard Fournette is trending to return following a hamstring injury. Linebackers Shaq Barrett (knee) and Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) are also due to return, setting the Bucs up for a deep playoff run.
Philadelphia won four straight games down the stretch in the regular season before getting hammered by Dallas in their regular-season finale last Saturday. The Eagles finished the season 9-8 and look to pull off an upset in this one. Against Dallas, Philadelphia took a 7-0 lead on the opening drive of the game and stood even at 17 with 3:40 to play in the first half before giving up two touchdowns in the final 1:45 of the half to trail 30-17 at the half. The Eagles got no closer than 10 the rest of the way. Philadelphia was outgained 475-315 in total offense while each team finished with 22 first downs. The Eagles committed the game’s only turnover, which helped negate their 32:23 to 27:37 advantage in time of possession.
Per NFL.com, the 2021 Eagles (2,715) surpassed the 1949 team (2,607) for the most rushing yards in a season in franchise history. Boston Scott who’s contributed to that total with 373 yards will be returning for the wild card round after being on the COVID list. Additionally, he’s rushed for a career-high seven touchdowns this season.
The five-time Super Bowl MVP is the all-time leading passer in playoff history with 12,449 yards and 83 touchdowns, Tom Brady is obviously the one player the Eagles must stop if they’re going to pull off the playoff upset. This season, he’s thrown 31 touchdown passes and no interceptions in the red zone, the most passing touchdowns without an interception in the red zone in the NFL, per NFL.com. Including the playoffs, the three-time league MVP has passed for over 300 yards in 125 games in career.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Bucs -7