Heading into the regular season, if you predicted Ryan Fitzpatrick would throw for over 400 yards and four TD’s in one of the three games he was scheduled to start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, you probably would have gotten a funny look. After achieving that feat in Week 1, the phrase FitzMagic became very commonplace. However, the question on the minds of Bucs fans was whether or not he could do it again.
It didn’t take long for Fitzpatrick to emphatically answer that question in Week 2. As a result, the Bucs are 2-0 and FitzMagic is alive and well in the Tampa Bay area.
Fitzpatrick completed 27-of-33 passes for 402 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception as the Bucs defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium. This game marked the second week in a row Fitzpatrick topped both 400 yards passing to go along with four TD passes. In addition, the Bucs’ defense also stepped up when needed, notching three sacks and recovering two fumbles. This also marked the first time the Bucs have started 2-0 since 2010.
One hallmark of the Bucs’ offense in 2018 has been its aggressiveness.
On the game’s first play from scrimmage, Fitzpatrick dropped back and went deep to DeSean Jackson. Jackson pulled in the catch and raced 75 yards for the game’s first TD just 11 seconds in, giving the Bucs a 7-0 lead. Jackson finished the afternoon with four catches for 129 yards. It was the longest TD the Bucs have ever scored on the opening play of a game in franchise history.
Tampa Bay’s defense came up with a pair of sacks in the opening quarter, including Jason Pierre-Paul’s first sack as a Buccaneer. Both teams exchanged turnovers in the game’s first 15 minutes as well. Bucs LB Kwon Alexander sacked Eagles QB Nick Foles, leading to a fumble recovered by rookie CB Carlton Davis. However, the Bucs gave it back on the ensuing drive. A Fitzpatrick pass to O.J. Howard was never fully controlled by the Bucs’ tight end. As he took a hit, the ball popped up into the air, where it was intercepted by Ronald Darby.
In the second quarter, this game showed the makings of a defensive struggle.
Philadelphia couldn’t take advantage of Darby’s interception, but the Bucs were unable to muster up any offense following a drop by Mike Evans during a promising drive.
Despite feeling some pressure from the Bucs’ pass rush, Foles gathered himself and led the Eagles on a 13-play, 78-yard drive culminating in a 15-yard TD run for Corey Clement, tying the game 7-7.
While the Eagles’ offense methodically moved the ball, the Bucs’ offense didn’t take much time to score.
Philadelphia held an 11-minute edge in time of possession, but Tampa Bay’s ability to move the ball negated that advantage. On their first play from scrimmage after the Eagles tied the game, FitzMagic showed up again. Fitzpatrick found Howard with a pass across the middle, and the big TE quickly redeemed himself. Howard raced 75 yards to the house, aided by some tenacious downfield blocking from receiver Chris Godwin. However, Chandler Catanzaro missed the extra point and the Bucs led 13-7.
Tampa Bay’s aggressiveness on offense continued at the end of the half when Godwin got in on the scoring. The emerging second-year wideout hauled in an eight-yard TD pass with 42 seconds remaining in the first half. Fitzpatrick’s third TD of the day gave the Bucs a 20-7 halftime lead. The scoring drive went 70 yards in six plays and took just 1:44.
Philadelphia’s aggressive fourth down playcalling came back to bite them to start the second half.
On 4th down and 4 from Tampa Bay’s 46-yard line, the Eagles went for it. However, Lavonte David’s tackle on Zach Ertz gave the Bucs the ball back. On third down, Fitzpatrick found Jackson down the near sideline for a 28-yard completion. Two plays later, Fitzpatrick tossed his fourth TD of the day, a four-yard scoring pass to Mike Evans that put the Bucs up 27-7.
However, Philly would answer with a nine-play, 84-yard drive ending with a two-yard TD run by Jay Ajayi. The highlight of the drive was Nelson Agholor’s 50-yard catch and run, setting the Eagles up inside the Bucs’ 20.
Having cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 27-14, the Eagles pounced on a Bucs mistake to make this a game in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay’s offense began driving again, seeking to add to their lead and put the game out of reach. However, Evans made a crucial error that helped keep the Eagles in the game. Following a catch that gave Tampa Bay a first down, Evans tried to pick up more yards, but failed to secure the ball, and Malcolm Jenkins stripped it loose. Philadelphia recovered, and while they didn’t score on the next drive, it kept the Bucs from adding to their lead.
The Eagles would narrow the lead to 27-21 with 2:46 remaining in the game, as Foles found Agholor in the back corner of the end zone on a beautiful fade pass from two yards out.
However, that would be as close as the Eagles would get, as the Bucs were able to maintain possession of the ball and run the clock out in the final minutes.
With the victory, the Bucs will look to extend their hot start when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers a week from tomorrow on Monday Night Football.
