09/25/23 09:30:00
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09/25 21:28 CDT Jalen Hurts throws for TD, runs for another as Eagles thump
Buccaneers 25-11 to remain unbeaten
Jalen Hurts throws for TD, runs for another as Eagles thump Buccaneers 25-11 to
remain unbeaten
By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) --- Jalen Hurts threw for a touchdown, ran for another and led
the Eagles on a game-ending drive that lasted more than nine minutes as
Philadelphia remained unbeaten with a 25-11 victory over the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers on Monday night.
The defending NFC champions, who won their first eight games a year ago, are
off to a 3-0 start in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1992-93.
Hurts improved to 20-1 over his last 21 regular-season games. He tossed a
34-yard TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus that helped Philly build a 13-3 halftime
lead, and his 1-yard scoring run gave the Eagles a 17-point advantage early in
the second half.
The Eagles led 25-3 by the time the Bucs finally got into the end zone on Baker
Mayfield's 1-yard TD throw to Mike Evans. A 2-point conversion trimmed
Philadelphia's lead to 14 with 9:22 remaining, but Hurts and the Eagles never
let Tampa Bay get the ball back.
Hurts was 4 of 5 passing and ran for a first down on that final drive.
The Bucs (2-1) lost for the first time with Mayfield at quarterback, turning
the ball over twice after playing turnover-free against Minnesota and Chicago.
The Bucs' usually reliable defense struggled, too, yielding 201 yards rushing.
A week after rushing for a career-high 175 yards, D'Andre Swift ran for 130
yards on 16 attempts for Philadelphia. Hurts was 23 of 37 passing for 277 yards
and two interceptions, while A.J. Brown finished with nine receptions for 131
yards for the Eagles --- one of just three NFL teams that remain unbeaten,
along with Miami and San Francisco.
Mayfield completed 15 of 25 passes for 146 yards, one touchdown and an
interception. Evans had five receptions, giving him 700 in his career.
GOOD OMEN
Twelve of the past 14 teams to start 3-0 have gone on reach the playoffs.
HALFTIME CEREMONY
Ronde Barber's 92-yard interception return for a touchdown that sealed Tampa
Bay's victory over the Eagles in the 2002 NFC championship game in Philadelphia
is perhaps the most memorable play in Tampa Bay franchise history. The former
Bucs star was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August and
received his Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence at halftime Monday night.
INJURIES
Eagles: WR Quez Watkins (hamstring) and RB Boston Scott (concussion) were
inactive. S Justin Evans (neck) left the game in the first quarter.
Buccaneers: CB Carlton Davis III (toe) and DL Calijah Kancey remained sidelined
after sitting out the previous week against Chicago.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Back at home to face NFC East rival Washington on Sunday.
Buccaneers: At NFC South rival New Orleans on Sunday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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