Nobody has figured out Jalen Hurts more than Tampa Bay’s HC Todd Bowles. He has managed to keep Hurts in check since he took over the coaching duties for the Buccaneers in 2022. The reigning Super Bowl MVP is 1-4 against the Buccaneers, as compared to 53-16 against the rest of the NFL franchises. Well, for the Eagles, it appears that numbers don’t lie, but they sure “Hurt”. For the upcoming Sunday game between the Buccaneers and the Eagles, experts have also raised concerns for Hurts and Co.

“The biggest chess match in this game is Hurts vs. Bowles. Bowles has been blitz-happy when facing Hurts, bringing extra pressure on over 70% of the passing snaps in the last three games. Hurts and the Eagles have struggled against those blitzes, with three turnovers and 10 sacks. Hurts and the offense can’t fall behind the sticks consistently because of negative plays in the blitz. The heavy pressure could also be a chance for big plays down the field,” Eliot Shorr-Parks, Eagles Reporter for 94WIP.com, posted on X. He stresses how Bowles has confused Hurts with his strategies in several games.

Hurts had a bittersweet campaign against the Bucs. Since 2021, he has managed to throw five touchdown passes with 131 rushing yards. He was also intercepted five times and recorded a total of 4 touchdowns. He has been sacked 14 times as well. The Bucs are bringing the blitz at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL, 35%, and they are rotating their pressure spots. RB Saquon Barkley, with a rushing record of 2,504 yards last season, has been pretty much held back as he was only able to accumulate 194 yards and a 3.3-yard average per carry in the first three games.

“He’s got a lot of tools and a lot of things in his system that he does that’s very challenging, and that’s what makes them such a great team and a great defense,” Hurts said when asked about Bowles. But Eagles’ fans should prepare them for some action. Since their previous encounter a year back, Hurts and the Eagles have made great progress.

Eagles’ offense faces several key issues ahead of the Bucs game

The Eagles have had a hard time running the ball. They have faced an eight-man box on 32.3% (3rd highest behind the Seahawks and the Chargers) of their run plays this year. The team is also managing to avoid only 10.1% of tackles on running plays, which places them 31st in the league. Saquon Barkley has been well contained by the opposition. As he hasn’t been able to break off a run of 20 yards or more, and only six runs have been of 10 yards or more this season.

If the problem is to be solved in a better way, Hurts needs to make quick decisions and needs to get the ball out fast. His average time is 2.58 seconds against blitzes. That would be an improvement against Bowles’ tricky pressure. For the Eagles, “every second counts”. They should violate Tampa Bay’s single high safety coverage of 51% which they often use. The offensive line should give a hand and carve out lanes for Brown and Barkley to make big runs.