The Tampa Bay Buccaneers players insist their contest against the Philadelphia Eagles is simply the next game on their schedule and a game they want to win. But is it really just another game? The Bucs have lost three consecutive games to the Eagles over the last two seasons, including two playoff games. Despite the three-game losing streak, the Bucs think their approach to this Sunday`s game will bode well for them.
The national media has taken Tampa Bay`s five-game winning streak with a grain of salt because the Buccaneers` five wins this season have come against opponents with a combined record of 7-21. But the Bucs could convince a lot of people they`re the team to beat in the NFC by defeating the 3-2 Eagles on Sunday. But that task will be easier said than done.
Tampa Bay has lost three consecutive contests to Philadelphia, including two playoff games at Veterans Stadium. The Bucs were outscored 51-12 in those two games and both of those losses ended Tampa Bay`s last two seasons.
"They have been the nemesis of the Bucs the past couple of years," Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson said of the Eagles. "We have our hands full, but that doesn`t really have to do with us this year. It`s a new beginning, new game, new identity for us and the thing about them is they have a lot of players who have played in the same system a long time, under the same defense and they have a lot of pro-bowl players over there. They have a tremendous team and you can tell how they play together."
If Tampa Bay is going to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender, they`ll have to prove they can defeat Philadelphia, which is something they haven`t been able to do since 1999.
"It`s truly a big game for us, but you can`t say (that it will measure the Bucs success)," said Tampa Bay nose tackle Anthony McFarland. "We have played some good teams. We have a five-game win streak and you have to be a good team to do things like that. We are on a mission to get ...
